The Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

What water means in astrology

Water is linked with the inner life: emotions, dreams, instinct and the bonds between people. Old texts pair it with winter and with the depth of the sea. When someone is described as being in touch with their feelings, or as picking up on a room's mood, the tradition would call that water.

Water signs are said to get along with each other and with the earth signs, since water feeds soil. They are said to find the fire signs a little overwhelming, though any pairing can work in practice.

Cancer: the cardinal water

Cancer covers roughly June 21 to July 22. Its symbol is the crab, a creature with a hard shell and a soft inside, and it is ruled by the Moon. Cancer is a cardinal sign, so it begins things, and it is described as caring, home-loving and quick to protect the people it loves.

The tradition cautions about moodiness and holding on to old hurts, and praises loyalty, memory and a gift for making a place feel like home. A Cancer Sun is often given words such as nurturer, keeper and guardian.

Scorpio: the fixed water

Scorpio covers roughly October 23 to November 21. Its symbol is the scorpion, and its traditional ruler is Mars, with Pluto added by modern astrologers. Scorpio is a fixed sign, so it holds on, and it is described as intense, private and determined.

Where Cancer feels in a warm way, Scorpio feels in a deep one. The tradition cautions about jealousy and secrecy, and praises loyalty, focus and an ability to look at difficult things without turning away. A Scorpio Sun is often given words such as investigator, survivor and strategist of the heart.

Pisces: the mutable water

Pisces covers roughly February 19 to March 20. Its symbol is two fish swimming in opposite directions, and its traditional ruler is Jupiter, with Neptune added by modern astrologers. Pisces is a mutable sign, so it adapts and flows, and it is described as imaginative, gentle and compassionate.

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and tradition says it gathers something of all the others. It cautions about escapism and blurred boundaries, and praises empathy and creativity. A Pisces Sun is often given words such as dreamer, healer and artist.

Three ways of feeling

The water signs share depth but differ in style. Cancer feels outward, toward family and home. Scorpio feels inward, toward what is hidden. Pisces feels in every direction at once, toward everything. As with the other elements, the modality adds detail that the element alone cannot give.

Remember too that a Sun sign is one placement among many. A person with a water Sun and an air rising sign may come across as light and talkative while feeling a great deal underneath, which is the sort of detail a fuller chart is meant to show.

Names that lean toward water

On NamesByStars, a name's astrological element comes from its sound. Flowing sounds such as L, R, M, N, W and Y, and the soft neutral vowel of words like sofa, are counted as water. Longer names of three syllables or more also lean toward water, as do names that end on a vowel, since both give the name a gentle, trailing sound.

Among the names on the site, Emma, Michael, Noah, Olivia, William, Daniel, Isabella, Emily, Alexander, Liam, Mia, Bella, Lauren and Maria all come out as water by sound. Many of the most popular names in the United States are on that list, so water-leaning names are easy to find.

Using this when you choose a name

If your chart has water in the Sun, Moon or rising sign, a water-sounding name is a direct match and will rank higher. Names of a friendly element, which for water is earth, are described as a nourishing pairing.

Because so many popular names lean toward water, a ranking for a water chart may show many familiar names. If you want something less common, the Names section lets you browse by letter and by sound.

A fair word about these descriptions

Every description in this guide comes from a long tradition, and none has been confirmed by controlled studies. Reading about your sign can still be a pleasant way to notice how you handle feelings, memories and the people close to you. Use the words that fit, drop the ones that do not, and remember that a sign is a starting point for reflection and not a limit on what you can do.

Keep exploring

The fire, earth and air signs each have a guide, and the introduction to Western astrology explains how the signs, Moon and rising sign work together. When you are ready, the Astrology path will turn a birth date into a ranked list of names.