A Leap Day Baby Boom at South Shore Hospital

It may be the rarest day of the year to have a birthday, but don’t tell that to the 13 Leap Day babies born February 29 at South Shore Hospital, including Patty and Shawn William’s third child, Valerie Rose.

“It’s pretty cool,” Patty said of Valerie’s special birthday. “It’s a unique thing she’ll always have about her.” 

Known as “leaplings” or “leapers,” people born on Leap Day, Feb. 29 only have their actual birthday roll around once every four years. Some celebrate the day annually on Feb. 28, others choose March 1.

“We’ll celebrate on March 1,” Patty said, “because it’s closer to St. Patrick’s Day and we’re Irish and this is a lucky thing.” 

Here are five more fun facts about lucky leaplings:

• The chance of being born on February 29 is 1 in 1,461.
• Less than .1% of the world’s population has a Leap Day birthday.
• It’s estimated that there are about 5 million leaplings worldwide.
• According to the Social Security Administration, about 362,900 people in the U.S. have a Feb. 29 birthday.  
• Of the approximately eight billion people on earth, an estimated five million share a Leap Day birthday.