Birthdays are always special, even for adults. The last thing you want is to forget the birthday of someone dear to you. Remember, no amount of belated greetings could make up for failing to wish a friend, family member, or work colleague on that single special day of the year.
But many people struggle to remember dates, even the most important ones for the people they care about.
If this sounds familiar to you, you no longer need to worry. Here are the best techniques to find someone’s birthday without much hassle.
The Most Effective Ways to Find a Person’s Birthday
Asking the person in question is the easiest way to learn their date of birth. However, if you have already asked them last year, you run the risk of seeming ignorant by repeating yourself.
Besides, when it comes to people close to you, you are already supposed to know their birthdays. The slightest hint of not remembering them could end up severing your relationships.
There are also times when you might not want to ask directly. For instance, if you are planning on surprising a new coworker with a party, being discreet would be extra important.
So, what can you do in all those instances to find out a person’s birthday? Here’s what we recommend you do.
Check With Friends and Family
If you don’t want to ask the relevant person directly, call up a close friend or family member who could provide the information.
Some people will be hesitant to disclose others’ personal details. So, if you don’t know them well, make sure you introduce yourself and inform them why you are keen to find their loved one’s date of birth.
Seeking an introduction through a mutual friend will also help.
Alternatively, search social media for mutual connections who could find the specific details you require.
Try Google
According to one report, Google indexes 400 billion documents. While the exact number leaves much to debate, one thing is for sure—Google’s indexed database is vast and constantly expanding.
This makes the search giant an important resource for finding useful information, including birthdays.
Google works by crawling and indexing web pages from various online sources, from public directories to blogs and forums.
The pages it indexes are then matched to specific keywords you search for with the help of advanced algorithms.
To search Google’s web resources, all you need to do is type in the relevant person’s first and last name together with the word “birthday” or “date of birth”.
Sometimes, finding details about the specific individual you have in mind could be tricky when more than one person has the same name. By entering a few other personal information about them, such as their workplace or high school, you can filter more relevant search results.
Browse Social Media Profiles
Some people share their birthdays on networking platforms. So, checking social media profiles is certainly worthwhile.
If you already know which social media sites the person in question is active on, finding them would be easier. However, things can get slightly complicated if you have no idea about their online social activities.
Your best bet would be to select the top platforms they are likely to spend time on. Most people use Facebook, Instagram, and X. Professionals are typically active on LinkedIn. All these could be excellent starting points for your search.
Many networking sites provide search bars to discover their users’ profiles. You can usually find an account by typing in a first and last name on these.
If several profiles turn up on search results, try adding a few extra details, such as a location or email.
In many instances, you may need to log into your account or create a profile to access an individual’s personal information. This can happen when a user sets up their profile on private mode.
Sometimes, you won’t be able to view accounts that are not part of your network. If so, send a request first to connect on the platform.
What can you do if the relevant person has not mentioned their birthday under the bio section? Go through their old posts from at least a year back. Look for birthday wishes or photos of birthday celebrations from last year. If this doesn’t yield any results, go to the next option on our list.
Use a People Search Site
These platforms collect public records about individuals to compile detailed profiles for their search services.
For instance, they may retrieve people data from federal databases, social media sites, and various other platforms where personal information is legally accessible. Then, with the help of AI and other advanced technology, they organize what they collect into searchable databases.
This makes it easier for you to discover birthdays and various other information using an accurate first and last name. Some sites even offer reverse lookup services so you can find data using a phone number, address, email, or similarly unique identifier.
However, keep in mind that many people search sites charge a fee for accessing their records. Therefore, ensure the information you require is worth the cost.
To Summarize
Remembering dates is not easy for everyone. For those with a memory of a goldfish, this could be particularly troubling when it comes to the birthdays of their loved ones.
In such moments, you can find out those special dates by asking a close friend, family member, or coworker. Searching Google, social media, and people search sites could also help find a person’s birthday discreetly and without much hassle.
Once you learn it, make sure you never forget it by adding it to your calendar with yearly reminders. If you are unusually forgetful, we recommend scheduling several reminders a few days ahead.
You can also subscribe to an e-card service, which could remind you well in advance each year about those must-know dates. Making that extra bit of effort could go a long way in strengthening your relationships.
