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We love watching a movie or reading a book with a main character that is dependable, loyal, outgoing, and the caring presence that others gravitate to. These characters are the epitome of a community leader, yet they do so without any title other than being known as fictional characters ESFJ.
It’s fun to be around an ESFJ personality type, and they are really caring, which makes you feel good too. Seeing such a warm and inviting character on screen or on page gives you a sense of the world actually being filled with goodness after all.
Let’s learn more about ESFJs and why we love them.
What Is an ESFJ Personality?
An ESFJ personality is one of the 16 personality types identified by Katharine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Meyers. On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), ESFJ is an acronym that stands for extroverted (E), sensing (S), feeling (F), and judging (J).
These personality types aren’t as common, and they make up 9%-13% of the general population; however, ESFJs aren’t as rare as ENTPs or INFJs.
The nicknames for ESFJ personalities are the consul, the caregiver, or the provider. They are very extroverted and love to share their lives with others.
As caregivers, they are often the bedrock of a community, and ESFJs are the people who open their hearts and homes to loved ones. That’s perfectly understandable since an ESFJ knows how to make people feel secure, cared for, and supported.
Every personality type is defined by their cognitive functions (thinking, sensing, feeling, and intuition).
The dominant cognitive function of an ESFJ is extroverted feeling, meaning these personalities make emotional-based decisions. They easily share how they feel and what they think, make snap decisions, and judge people based on their gut feeling.
Introverted sensing is the auxiliary cognitive function for ESFJ personalities. They are quite mindful, being very present in the now rather than stuck in the future or past.
The tertiary function of ENFJs is extroverted intuition. They look for patterns to help them better understand the world around them, and they prefer looking at possibilities while finding creative solutions.
Lastly, their inferior function is introverted thinking. They are very organized and like to plan, which helps them feel more in control.
The main strengths of ESFJs are that they are:
Some of the ESFJ weaknesses include that they may be needy, seek external validation, controlling, and sensitive to critique. ENFJs can also be highly opinionated and too selfless.
Before diving into fictional ESFJ characters, here are some real people with an ESFJ personality:
21 Famous Fictional Characters with an ESFJ Personality
Here are some of the most famous ESFJ fictional characters:
1. Fiona, Shrek
One of the best examples of a fictional ESFJ personality is Fiona from Shrek. She’s a healthy ESFJ who loves being around others. She easily made friends with the Dragon, Donkey, and all the other characters.
Fiona is a caring soul, and while she and Shrek don't seem to get along well at first, she’s kind to him. They are the perfect match, especially with Shrek being an ISTP personality type.
She’s also very practical. Fiona didn’t want to be an ogre at night and human princess by day, so she agreed to marry Lord Farquaad to break the curse, even though she had fallen in love with Shrek.
2. Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones
One of an ESFJ’s weaknesses is looking for outside validation, and Sansa Stark embodies this weakness. Initially, she looks for Jeoffrey’s approval, and hopes to win status by becoming his wife.
However, as the years pass, Sansa is forced to grow up, and she begins focusing on keeping herself and her family safe in any way she can.
Sansa is caring, and she wants to have the stability of a family and a home, but she learns that she has to risk everything to finally get the peace she wants.
Her ESFJ ability to feel what people feel begins to help her find a way through the chaos, and she starts becoming a stillpoint that others gravitate to.
3. Daphne Bridgerton, Bridgerton
Another famous fictional ESFJ is Daphne Bridgerton from the acclaimed period drama Bridgerton. She’s an extrovert and loves being surrounded by people (and that’s no surprise since she has seven siblings!).
Daphne is kind and caring, willing to do anything for those she loves. Like Fiona, she’s also practical. She knows she needs to marry and is willing to marry Prince Friedrich even though she has feelings for the Duke (Simon Hastings).
4. Margaret “Meg” March, Little Women
One of the absolute classic characters with ESFJ has to be Margaret “Meg” March from the much-treasured novel Little Women, and the movies by the same name.
Meg, like her mother, wants home, family, and a sense of community. While she dreams of being famous, she still chooses love, caring for her family, and creating a home by marrying a poor man she loves.
As the eldest sister, Meg has a strong sense of responsibility, and she works hard to foster values such as generosity, virtue, and kindness, making her favored by her friends and family.
5. Dorothy Gale, Wizard of Oz
Over the rainbow, in the land of Oz, the ESFJ character of Dorothy Gale is a young woman filled with love, caring, and sympathy.
While she’s in a strange and magical place, she still manages to get people to work together, even meshing complex characters like the Tin Man and the Lion through patience and persistence.
Dorothy shows great concern for others, and even strangers quickly become people she cares about. She is a responsible young woman, and she wants to return to her family as she knows this is where she belongs.
6. Will Schuester, Glee
A healthy ESFJ is Will Schuester from Glee. While Will was a teacher, he was also a leader as head of the Glee Club.
Being a leader is something ESFJs naturally excel at – they help others achieve their dreams and full potential, and that’s what Will did for Rachel, Santana, Finn, Kurt, and Blaine.
Will’s also very kind and caring toward his students and fellow teachers.
7. Jack Sheridan, Virgin River
The heartthrob character of Jack Sheridan in the hit Netflix series is a typical ESFJ character. He is caring, instantly cares about people who need help, and he is a general nice-guy.
Even when things seem not to work out for him and his paramour, Mel Monroe, he still remains her loyal friend and caring companion.
Jack is a pillar in his community, always ready to help, living in the present (though he’s haunted by the past), and he’s super practical about getting things done while he fulfills his role as loyal caregiver to those who depend on him.
8. Troy Bolton, High School Musical
The charismatic and all-around-nice-guy from East High School is a typical ESFJ. Troy Bolton is the popular kid who is friends with everyone, and he’s the pillar of the basketball team.
At first, Troy comes across as detached from his feelings and emotions as he’s torn between doing what others want (like his dad who wants him to be a professional basketball player) versus his dreams.
As a people-pleaser, it takes Troy almost the whole of the first High School Musical Movie to realize that he should be his own person.
9. Giselle, Enchanted
Giselle from Enchanted is a caregiver to a T as she cares for all the animals and anyone she meets, from the animated world to the real one. She comes across as a stereotypical Disney princess, but she’s so much more.
At first, she wants to marry her Prince Charming (her true love), but then later realizes that she doesn’t need a man to be happy.
She’s outgoing, singing about her emotions, and makes friends with anyone she meets, even Robert and his daughter.
10. Danielle, Ever After
The interpretation of the classic Cinderella story in the movie Ever After, introduces us to Danielle, who embodies the ESFJ personality type to a T. Danielle is focused on keeping her family together, despite the plans of her evil stepmother.
She even risks the penalty of death by impersonating a courtier to save a servant’s life.
Through hardship, Danielle remains loyal to those she loves and cares about, and she believes in the ideals of Utopia.
Her passion and outgoing nature soon captivates the prince, and she makes decisions based on her gut, such as climbing a tree and battling gypsies.
11. Woody Pride, Toy Story
Who knew a toy could embody the characteristics of an ESFJ personality? But Woody Pride, the sheriff in Toy Story, is a real community leader and carer.
He risks dismemberment to save toys that go missing, and he organizes every toy to take care of their child, Andy.
When Andy gets a new toy, Woody feels depressed as he had depended on outside validation (Andy’s) to help build his sense of self.
But Woody doesn’t hold grudges and lives in the present, which is why he and Buzz Lightyear can become friends.
12. Emily Cooper, Emily in Paris
Emily in Emily in Paris is quite the fictional ESFJ character. She moves to Paris and works extra hard at the marketing firm as she continues to look for external validation from Sylvie and Madeline.
Even in a new country, she connects with people, winning Luc, Laurent, Camille, Julian, Mindy, and Gabriel over. While her loyalties are divided by Sylvie and Madeline, Emily tries her best to be dependable, practical, and sensitive.
13. Hercules, Hercules
The ultimate “man’s man” character of Hercules is a real ESFJ personality. He is constantly proving himself, fighting battles to protect the helpless, and worrying about how people see him.
Hercules is somewhat insecure in his sense of self because, being half-human and half-god, he feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere.
When he starts making a name for himself, he really latches onto outside validation, and he loves the fanfares of towns and villages he visits.
Despite being a people-pleaser, Hercules also continues practicing kindness and goodwill, showing that his strength is only matched by his heart.
14. Monica Geller, Friends
An ESFJ character can be competitive as they like to be admired and held in high esteem. This is where Monica Geller in Friends comes in.
Despite being competitive, Monica cares about her friends and immediate community, which is why she’s very involved in their lives.
She easily admits to how she feels, and while she’s warm and caring with people, she can also pursue outside approval, which can land her into hot water.
15. Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob Squarepants
The legendary cartoon character is a typical ESFJ, and the little yellow block is focused on making all the people around him happy. Whenever one of the creatures under the sea is upset, Spongebob is there to comfort and counsel them.
There’s something eternal about Spongebob’s presence in the underwater world, and he is one of the pillars of the community, always doing what’s best for everyone.
16. Lando Calrissian, Star Wars
When we first meet Lando Calrissian, he is the administrator of a private colony—a city in the clouds, and he is very concerned with how people see him. While he ends up betraying his best friend, he only does this because he has to place his community first.
This behavior personifies the ESFJ character who seeks public approval by organizing situations that affect his community.
17. Gimli, the Lord of the Rings
The character of Gimli may not instantly strike you as being the consul side of an ESFJ, but Gimli is fiercely loyal, dedicated to his community, outgoing, and easily shows his feelings (usually his anger).
He is mindful of the present, and despite seeming gruff, Gimli is concerned by how people see him.
When he falls off a horse, Gimli insists that it’s deliberate, so he won’t lose face. His practical nature helps him face down terrible foes without any apparent fear.
18. Allison Hargreeves, The Umbrella Academy
A typical fictional caregiver is Allison Hargreeves (Number Three) from The Umbrella Academy. Of all the siblings, Allison is the one who’s set on making and keeping the peace, and she treats everyone with kindness, even forgiving Viktor and welcoming him home.
She is quite insecure, constantly seeking validation from others. Family means everything to her, and she does what she can to keep them safe, eventually refusing her alter-ego, Rumor, to use her powers of manipulation.
19. Carlisle Cullen, Twilight
Carlisle Cullen is the caregiver in the Twilight series. He found Edward and all his other vampire “siblings” and took them in, caring for them and teaching them to not feed on humans.
He is the leader of the family, giving them guidance while letting them make their own decisions and come into their own. His gut feelings often save the family from other vampires and werewolves. Loyalty, compassion, and being dependable are typical of an ESFJ character, and Carlisle embodies these.
20. Allie Hamilton, The Notebook
Allie Hamilton is a typical obedient daughter, and as an ESFJ personality, she seeks to please her parents by dating suitable boys and sacrificing her happiness to do what’s expected of her.
While she is loving and cares about her family, she eventually pursues a relationship with Noah because she loves how he makes her feel (approving of her).
She initially leaves him to keep her parents happy, succumbing to people-pleasing behavior, which is typical of ESFJ personalities.
21. Snow White, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
One of the ultimate nurturing characters from the classics has to be Snow White. When she meets seven strange men, she instantly chooses to take care of them, selflessly helping them and looking after their needs.
Her friendly nature and innocence wins them over, but her polite conditioning overrules her gut feelings about the old lady with the poisoned apple, and she ends up falling into a near-death state.
Typical of the open nature of ESFJs, Snow White tries to see the possibilities of the evil queen, not wanting to see her as a witch. Throughout the tale, Snow White is never disloyal, and she only flees to survive.
Final Thoughts About Fictional Characters ESFJ
In the world of make-believe the characters with an ESFJ personality type are the ones we love the most… wishing we could surround ourselves with the Snow Whites, Spongebobs, and Monica Gellers of the world.
Have you recently read or watched something with some fictional characters ESFJ to comfort the heart and mind?
If you love them, you’ll love reading and watching more about fictional characters with ENFP personality types as they are leaders and also great at spreading comfort and security.
And if you're looking for more articles on people and characters with different personalities, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- ESTJ vs. ENTJ: 6 Differences Between These Personality Types
- INTJ VS ENTJ: 13 Differences for These Personality Types
- 41 Famous Fictional Characters with ENFJ Personality
Finally, if you want to identify YOUR personality type, then take one of these 11 personality tests to better understand what makes you tick.
