What fictional characters do you relate to as an ENFP?

Just as we can describe real people using the Myers-Briggs® typology system, we can also use the system to type well-written fictional characters. Some of fiction’s most iconic and intriguing characters are ENFPs, and today we’re going to talk about seven of them that I think real-life ENFPs will find relatable.

Another great thing about looking at character personality types is that it helps us to better understand people who have different types than we do. Fictional ENFPs can serve as examples for what real-life ENFPs might be like, and also show how much variation can exist between individuals with the same type.

Ahsoka Tano

Ahsoka is one of my favorite Star Wars characters, and she’s one of three who I type as an ENFP (Qui-Gon Jin and Ezra Bridger are the other). Like others of this type, Ahsoka leads with Extroverted Intuition, which Personality Hacker nicknames “Exploration” because for NPs “the best pattern recognition system for the outer world is to mess with everything that can be messed with, and to explore.”

From the very first time Ahsoka was introduced in the Clone Wars movie, she’s challenging authority, freely voicing opinions, and enthusiastically rushing into situations assuming she already understands what’s going on. With an Intuitive’s keen insight into patterns, she’s often right, but not always. Her secondary Introverted Feeling (Fi) is concerned with acting in accordance with her inner core beliefs. This is demonstrated in just about every episode — she always does and says what she feels is right, even when it conflicts with Anakin, other Jedi Masters, or the entire Jedi counsel. Ultimately, that leads to her leaving the Jedi order and forging her own path.

Ariel

Ariel is an excellent example of ENFPs as a type obsessed with exploration, experimentation, and new experiences. I’m sure many ENFPs, especially younger ones, can also identify with her impulsiveness and her insistence on living life in her own way.

Like many Intuitive types, Ariel feels stifled and misunderstood by the society around her. And being an EP type on top of that, she’s not content to just stay where she’s at and just daydream about how things could be different. She’s going to take outer-world action to make her dreams a reality. She might not think through her plan of action as well as a J-type would, but it all works out for her in the end.

• If you’re interested in more Disney Princess types, including why I type Moana as an ENFP, click here.

The Doctor

It’s hard to type The Doctor from Doctor Who since his personality changes when he regenerates, but I’m pretty confident in typing the 11th Doctor, played by Matt Smith, as an ENFP. The 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant, also has quite a few ENFP traits.

Personality Hackers says that for ENFPs, “The instinct and desire to explore new territory is irresistible, and if the sense of novelty isn’t satisfied” they will quickly “find themselves slip into depression.” Is there any better description of how this Doctor tears around time and space? Of course, he’s not just looking to avoid boredom. He’s also looking to help people, which is something many real-world ENFPs relate to. Others may think them quirky and odd, but there’s no denying they’re here to help.

Elizabeth Bennet

I’ve avoided having an opinion on what personality type Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice is because it’s so hotly debated. Plus, one of my favorite bloggers has typed her as an INFJ and I didn’t want to disagree. However, I do lean toward her being most like an ENFP type and I think she belongs in this article. Honestly, after dating an ENFP for 9 months the similarities in personality are so striking I can’t imagine Elizabeth as any other type.

Like many ENFPs, Elizabeth is independent, spontaneous, curious, and innovative (all characteristics of Extroverted Intuition). Some outside observers might categorize her as lacking common sense, but in reality she just places a low value on staying inside a socially acceptable mold. She has very firm principles that she refuses to compromise on and it takes her a long time of inward soul-searching to change her mind (typical of Introverted Feeling). Together, she and Mr. Darcy are a classic ENFP/INTJ pair that just melt my heart.

Geet Kaur Dhillon

The film which started my love affair with Bollywood, Jab We Met, is still one of my favorite movies. One of the main characters from this film, Geet, is a lovely example of a free-spirit, chatterbox type of ENFP. She highly original, independent, social, and imaginative. She talks with everyone she meets as if she’s known them forever. One example of these traits is that after she unknowing saves a fellow passenger on a train from committing suicide, she invents an elaborate tale for the ticket-master to explain why Aditya doesn’t have a ticket.

Geet’s impulsiveness and desire to do what she feels is right for her drives much of the plot. Her vivacious, opinionated, life-loving personality inspires Aditya to live his life to the fullest. During the course of this 2 and 1/2 hour film, we also get to see her hit a point that I’m sure many ENFPs can relate to when her dreams crash in around her and she slips into a stress-response that triggers withdrawal and depression. She doesn’t get stuck there, though, and with a little help from her friend is soon back to a slightly more mature version of her ENFP self.

Genie

Disney’s Aladdin gives us another great example of how ENFPs use their intuition. In the words of one MBTI blogger, “The Genie’s brain is a parade of ideas and possibilities.” And in his case (as for many real-world ENFPs) this parade of ideas can’t stay confined in his head.

With “phenomenal cosmic power” at his disposal, Genie uses it to entertain elaborately, fulfill wishes in spectacular ways, and befuddle people by the speed with which his mind jumps from one idea to the next. Outgoing and entertaining, Genie is a character that ENFPs can relate to who love to find themselves at the center of attention and then use that spotlight to make other people feel good.

Percival Blakeney

The main character of The Scarlet Pimpernel puts the strength of his formidable intellect and acting ability to good use by living two lives — one as Sir Percival Blakeney, Baronet, and another as a mysterious hero rescuing condemned aristocrats during the French Revolution. Sir Percy is a great example of just how focused, passionate, and driven ENFPs can be when they’ve set themselves a task that they believe in with ever fiber of their being.

Though ENFPs are stereotyped as a type that’s rarely serious and never for long, an ENFP with a mission is a formidable creature indeed. It’s nearly impossible to sway them from an idea or a course of action that they believe in strongly. This is a strength many real-world ENFPs can relate to. It can also cause some problems that I’m sure real ENFPs have encountered, such as neglecting to hear both sides to a situation because you’re so certain your perception of it already accurate (something that causes problems for Sir Percy and Marguerite’s relationship).

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What did you think of this list? If you’re an ENFP, which fictional characters do you relate to best? Is there anyone you’d add to or take off of this list? I’d love to hear your thoughts!