Describing Age and Life Stage
When prompting for people, describing age clearly can shape the outcome just as much as physical features or clothing. However, many AIs don’t reliably interpret numeric ages (e.g., “a 7-year-old girl”) with visual accuracy. Instead of specifying numbers, it’s more effective to use descriptive, life stage–based terms. This appendix breaks those terms into two parts per group: age terms and modifiers to help communicate the age and physical traits more accurately.
You can mix and match across each category for more controlled image generation.
Infant (0–1)
Age Terms Newborn, baby, infant
Modifiers Chubby, swaddled, soft-cheeked, sleeping, wide-eyed, tiny limbs, smooth skin, round cheeks
Toddler (1–3)
Age Terms Toddler, young toddler, early walker
Modifiers Baby-faced, wobbling, curly-haired, pudgy, chubby cheeks, short limbs, clumsy
Young Child (4–7)
Age Terms Young child, small child, preschooler, kindergartener
Modifiers Playful, curious, big-eyed, tousled hair, toothy smile, energetic, innocent expression, round face
Older Child (8–12)
Age Terms Older child, grade-schooler, school-aged kid, preteen
Modifiers Freckled, active, gap-toothed, lean-limbed, lively, transitional build, early maturity
Teenager (13–17)
Age Terms Teenager, adolescent, high school–aged, teenage girl/boy
Modifiers Moody, gangly, early puberty, developing features, serious gaze, youthful but mature, growing taller, soft jawline
Young Adult (18–25)
Age Terms Young adult, college-aged adult, late teen, youthful adult, stylish young man/woman
Modifiers Fresh-faced, smooth-skinned, subtly mature, vibrant, minimal wrinkles, soft features
Adult (26–39)
Age Terms Adult, early 30s adult, adult in their prime, mature young man/woman
Modifiers Refined features, confident, glowing skin, strong jawline, well-groomed, composed, healthy appearance, mature presence
Middle-Aged (40–59)
Age Terms Middle-aged adult, mature adult, adult in their 40s or 50s
Modifiers Distinguished, subtle wrinkles, salt-and-pepper hair, thoughtful expression, experienced face, graceful aging, defined lines, mature elegance, visible signs of life experience
Senior (60–79)
Age Terms Senior, older adult, elderly man/woman, grandparent
Modifiers Silver-haired, deep smile lines, wrinkled skin, wise eyes, cane or reading glasses
Elder / Advanced Age (80+)
Age Terms Elder, aged elder, very old person
Modifiers Frail, thin white hair, deeply wrinkled, slow-moving, hunched posture, fragile yet dignified, timeless expression
Age Modifiers by Life Stage
These descriptive modifiers can enhance the emotional tone, physical appearance, or personality of a character based on their age group. While some are flexible, most are naturally suited to a specific stage of life.
Youth-Oriented Modifiers: Youthful, baby-faced, radiant with youth, fresh-faced, full of life, soft-featured, innocent-looking
Neutral or Crossover Modifiers: Mature presence, confident, refined, composed, healthy-looking, well-groomed, graceful
Age-Related or Elder-Oriented Modifiers: Aging gracefully, time-worn, dignified aging, weathered by time, wise-looking, timeless beauty, deeply lined, gentle presence