If someone has these 12 traits, they’re a really lovely person

Can you think of someone who fits the bill?

A woman with light brown hair tied back smiles while looking to the side. She is wearing a green blouse and standing outdoors with a blurred modern building in the background.

If you’ve ever spent time with someone and thought afterwards that they’re a truly lovely person to hang out with, then you’re immensely fortunate. Genuinely good people are rare treasures in this grey world, and most of them will embody the traits that follow:

1. A great sense of humor that’s never cruel or demeaning.

A man and woman sit at a table in a brightly lit restaurant, laughing and enjoying drinks. The table has various beverages, including a latte, a red drink in a stemmed glass, and some cups and glasses. The atmosphere is warm and casual.

Some of the loveliest folks you’ll ever meet are those who have a great sense of humor. They laugh easily at their own foibles and can find humor in difficult circumstances, but won’t laugh at others’ misfortunes. Essentially, they’re pleasant and fun to be around, but they aren’t cruel jokesters.

2. Kindness.

Two young children sit on a wooden bench. The child on the left, wearing a blue jacket, holds an ice cream cone and looks down at it. The child on the right, wearing a red shirt with a heart, smiles and reaches out towards the ice cream cone.

Many people equate kindness with niceness, but while the latter may be insincere, kindness is always real—even if it lurks beneath a crusty exterior. Truly lovely people are quick to offer help when it’s needed, and are often immensely patient and gentle toward the most vulnerable members of society.

3. Empathy.

Two people are sitting close on the floor, with one person comforting the other. One has their head bowed and is being comforted by the other who has a hand on their back. The scene conveys empathy and support. Both individuals are casually dressed.

The ability to empathize with others’ pain and suffering is an immensely admirable trait. It allows people to imagine how they’d feel in another’s shoes, and empathetic folks often do what they can to alleviate the hurt they encounter. This is one reason why you’ll find so many lovely people doing volunteer and humanitarian work.

4. Graciousness.

A barista, wearing a grey apron and white shirt, stands behind a counter and smiles while serving a cup of coffee to a customer with curly hair and a tattoo on her arm. The background features shelves with glasses and coffee equipment.

Many people go ballistic if a server gets their order wrong, or if someone takes too long to text them back. In contrast, really lovely people understand that just about everyone makes mistakes and has their own issues to deal with, and are very gracious and understanding as a result.

5. Authenticity.

A woman with long brown hair and bangs smiles brightly while standing outdoors. She is wearing a sleeveless yellow top and has her arms crossed. The background includes blurred trees and a bright, sunny environment.

It’s disappointing when people behave in a fake or sycophantic manner toward others, as we never know their real intentions. In contrast, authentic people show their true intentions from day one, so you always know where you stand with them. This tends to make them immensely trustworthy as well.

6. Accountability.

A woman with long, wavy, brown hair is looking at the camera with a worried expression. She is wearing a white shirt and clasping her hands together, as if in a pleading or praying gesture. The background is plain and light-colored.

Some of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet are those who don’t just take accountability for their missteps, but make a sincere effort to make up for any hurt they’ve caused. Their apologies aren’t just hollow words meant to smooth things over: when they say they’re sorry, they mean it.

7. A love of animals (and animals love them too).

A man in a plaid shirt gently pets a brown horse over a fence on a sunny day, smiling at the animal in an outdoor setting.

You can tell a lot about someone by how they treat animals, and how those animals react to them in turn. If every pet in the area gravitates toward your friend, and they’re friendly and affectionate with the little ones, you can rest assured that this is a sincerely good person.

8. Appreciation and respect for nature.

A woman wearing a tan cap and a casual scarf smiles while leaning on a wooden fence outdoors. She is dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt and appears to be enjoying a serene day in the nature with green foliage and a pathway in the background.

Lovely people will never throw garbage onto the forest floor, or stamp on an insect for fun. They revere the natural world, and will often go out of their way to help to conserve it, such as participating in shoreline cleanups, rehabilitating wild animals, and planting bee and butterfly-friendly gardens.

9. Trustworthiness.

A man with dark hair and a beard stands against a plain background. He is wearing an olive green shirt over a white t-shirt. He has a puzzled expression and is making an "OK" sign with his right hand while pressing his lips together with that hand's thumb and forefinger.

A person you can rely on to show up when you need them, or who will take your secrets to the grave with them, is worth more than all the rubies in the world. When you find someone you can truly trust with just about anything, treasure this person with everything you have.

10. Courage.

Rescue workers in protective gear search for survivors under collapsed concrete slabs amidst rubble, following a structural collapse in an urban area. Construction machinery and support personnel are visible in the background, coordinating the effort.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear: it’s the ability to do things despite feeling afraid. Many of the loveliest people around are those who will put themselves in danger to help others, such as running into a burning house to save a puppy, or defending a friend who’s being threatened.

11. A lack of gatekeeping.

Two women are looking at a computer screen and smiling. One is wearing glasses and a white top, while the other is standing and holding a file, dressed in a blue top. They appear to be in an office space with colorful posters on the walls.

Instead of guarding knowledge or techniques selfishly, for their own gain, they’re eager to share them with others. Whether it’s a recipe that someone enjoyed, a creative technique, or a great source for their favorite books or clothing, they’re keen to help others enjoy the same things that they do.

12. Generosity toward those who can’t do anything for them.

A woman in a tan coat kneels to give change to a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk. The man, wearing a red hoodie under a brown coat, has a sign beside him that reads "Once I was like you." A bus is visible in the background with people walking by.

While many folks will be kind and giving toward those whom they hope can do something for them in turn, truly lovely people don’t do these things in the hope of reciprocal action. Instead, they’re generous with their time or resources so that they can make others’ lives a little brighter—even if only for a moment.