On How I Met Your Mother, the Ted Mosby of the future tells his children the story of how he met their mother, of course. Yet, for a story about one man meeting one woman, there are a whole lot of ancillary characters who seem to possess almost no bearing on the actual story.
For example, in the first eight seasons, Ted spends more time telling his kids the stories regarding the many women he dated before finding "the one." He even tells the stories of the women dated by Barney! It's an absurdly long, twisting and turning narrative, but at least the women on HIMYM were always dynamic enough to slot into Chinese Zodiac signs.
Rat: Quinn
Quinn is a girlfriend of Barney's from season seven, who is portrayed by Becki Newton. She's best known for being the stripper who is unfortunately put through the ringer by a conflicted Barney.
For those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rat, they will feel a kinship with Quinn. She is an exceedingly resourceful character who makes the best of the worst situations and proves herself to be very quick on her feet.
Ox: Zoey
Zoey is the driven idealist who clashes with Ted before eventually relenting and dating him. Part of his major attraction to her came from these qualities within her. They're traits that match her up with the Year of the Ox.
Oxen are known for being determined and strong-willed. They never give up on anything they put their mind to, which is an exact description of Zoey.
Tiger: Cindy
Cindy may not have been the one for Ted, but she is the one with the closest ties to the woman who'd eventually become this. Ultimately, however, Cindy was not meant for Ted because of her sexuality and because of her personality.
She is a self-assured woman who goes after what she wants, even if she's not sure how her actions will land. This is exactly the kind of personality that resides within those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Rabbit: Nora
Portrayed by Nazanin Boniadi, Nora first appeared in "Desperation Day" as a colleague of Robin. Eventually, Nora would date Barney (it was a roller coaster relationship), but she was always upfront about her wants and needs.
While she may have never been a good match for Barney, she does sync up very well with the Rabbits of the Chinese Zodiac. Her kindness and forgiving nature are paramount, but she also has a strong sense of responsibility, just like Rabbits.
Dragon: Victoria
Victoria, Ashley Williams' oft-appearing HIMYM character, is widely considered to be among the best of Ted's myriad girlfriends. She even makes multiple appearances across the course of the series, cementing herself in the series' lore.
What set Victoria apart was her confidence. She was never afraid to indulge what she knew she wanted on an emotional level, but she was also self-assured enough to set both herself and Ted on the right paths for one another. That is what makes Victoria and anyone who was born in the Year of the Dragon so closely connected.
Snake: Amy
Mandy Moore's criminal, tattoo-oriented girlfriend character, Amy, is a chaotic, unpredictable character in the history of Ted's romantic entanglements throughout HIMYM.
She is entirely enigmatic and occasionally borders on straight-up sycophancy. Snakes need only watch one scene featuring Amy to understand that they are kindred spirits.
Horse: Jeanette
Similarly chaotic, Jeanette is Abby Elliott's role on HIMYM. She also bears the proud distinction of being the last woman Ted dated before meeting "the one."
However, the distinction of Jeanette also pertains to her alignment with the Year of the Horse. After all, she is a high-octane obsessive who spends a great deal of time actually stalking Ted. Only Horses could relate.
Goat: Stella
Like Victoria and Zoey, Stella was one of Ted's girlfriends who came the closest to being the mother. Sarah Chalke's character got the furthest of anyone, even to the point of a near wedding.
Stella was not necessarily the most memorable of the show's girlfriends, but she did spend a lot of time on the series all the same. Her presence was gentler than most, which is why she is the representative of the Year of the Goat.
Monkey: Karen
The Year of the Monkey bears a few personality traits with it, including sharpness, haughtiness, and abundant sarcasm. No one syncs up with those attributes more than Laura Prepon's Karen.
Karen is like the anti-Victoria. She is cruel to everyone she meets and hard to find redemption within. Karen is an undoubted embodiment of the worst of Monkeys.
Rooster: Naomi
If the name Naomi might seem unfamiliar in the world of HIMYM, then there is a chance she is better known by another name. That would be the Slutty Pumpkin, her moniker coined from a Halloween costume.
Katie Holmes' Naomi character is an integral one to Ted's sweeping romanticism. She is a similar believer in destiny and, also, in the fact that some signs point against destiny. This observant level of practicality is what makes Naomi a Rooster.
Dog: Blah Blah
Some girlfriends are more memorable than others, as evidenced by Blah Blah, a character whose name is forgotten by the Ted of the future.
However, one element of Blah Blah that is impossible to forget is her endearing nature. She is always a pleasant person to be around, even if she comes across off-putting to others. This core sense of loveliness is what makes Blah Blah aligned with the Year of the Dog.
Pig: Tracy
Lastly, Robin and Lily might not have qualified for this list, but Tracy McConnell absolutely does. Not only is she one of Ted's girlfriends, but she is the titular mother! She is the one!
She is an ideal match for Ted and he is an ideal match for her, in tandem. Her compassion is unmatched and her spirit is free-flowing and generous. Tracy embodies some of the world's most wondrous qualities, which also happen to be found in the Year of the Pig.