Firstborn means the oldest child in a family, the one born before any brothers or sisters. When parents have their first baby, that child is their firstborn.

Throughout history, being the firstborn often carried special significance. In many European royal families, the firstborn son inherited the throne, even if he had older sisters. In some cultures, the firstborn received the largest share of the family's property or special responsibilities for caring for aging parents. The Bible tells stories where firstborn children received particular blessings or birthrights.

Today, while laws and customs have changed, birth order still shapes family dynamics. Firstborn children often become protective of younger siblings or take on leadership roles in the family. Parents sometimes expect more from their firstborn simply because they arrived first, though this isn't always fair to either the oldest or the younger children.

The word works as both an adjective (her firstborn daughter) and a noun (he is the firstborn). Scientists who study families have found that firstborns often share certain traits, though every child develops their own unique personality regardless of birth order. Being a firstborn, middle child, youngest, or only child each comes with different experiences, but none determines who you'll become.