Can a Jedi Be a Girl?

Since Force-sensitivity, not gender, determines who is and who isn’t Jedi, a Jedi can be a girl. And like their male counterparts, their power varies depending on how much Force-sensitivity they possess. And throughout the franchise, there have been many powerful female Jedi.  

There are many female Jedis, but they didn’t gain prominence in the franchise until The Clone Wars debuted. Yet it wasn’t until the Sequel Trilogy became the primary protagonist, when fans were introduced to Rey, later known as Rey Skywalker. 

Are There Any Female Jedis?

While female Jedi are reduced to background roles in the Prequel Trilogy, there are far more female Jedi than Star Wars originally implied. Some of which, like Depa Billaba, served on the Jedi High Council during The Phantom Menace. 

However, it wasn’t until the animated Clone Wars did we get to know a few notable names like Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee. And even then, female Jedi did not quite take centerstage. 

Fortunately, the Sequel Trilogy introduced us to Rey, who remains not just one of the most popular female Jedi in the franchise; but one of the most popular Jedi overall. 

How Many Female Jedi are There?

There are many female Jedi in both Canon and Legends. Rey took their popularity to new heights as the main protagonist in the Sequel Trilogy. Another Jedi that stands out is Ahsoka Tano, one of the main characters in The Clone Wars. 

However, other female Jedis have captured fans’ attention throughout the saga. Here is more about Rey, Ahsoka, and a few of the more notable names:

Jaina Solo Fel

The daughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Jaina proved herself as a perfect combination of her parents, inheriting Han’s wits and Leia’s Force-sensitivity. During her time in the New Jedi Order, Jaina Solo achieved the rank of Jedi Master and held a seat on the Jedi High Council. 

Some of Jaina’s most notable accomplishments included turning Zekk to the Light Side and helping defeat the Second Imperium. Also inheriting Han’s piloting skills, Jaina joined the New Republic Military and became a respectable Squadron Pilot. 

Depa Billaba

Hailing from the planet Chalacta and the Padawan of Mace Windu, Depa Billaba served on the High Council before Order 66, and she was even present during The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn lobbied to train Anakin Skywalker. 

During the Clone Wars, she trained Caleb Dume. Billaba’s sacrifice during Order 66 places her among the most prominent female Jedi in the franchise, when she took the bullets from her clone troopers to allow Caleb to escape and survive The Great Jedi Purge. 

Barriss Offee

Offee achieved Jedi Knight status during the Clone Wars, which kicked off when she became part of the Jedi Task Force assigned to rescue Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padame Amadala led to the First Battle of Geonosis. 

She later became a Jedi Commander and befriended Ahsoka Tano during the Second Battle of Geonosis. 

Fans remember Offee for staging the Jedi Temple bombing following her increasing tensions with the Order. Believing the Jedi to have become too militant, she and Letta Turmond carried out the act before framing Tano. 

Anakin Skywalker discovered the truth, and Offee was arrested. Although the Jedi eventually released her from custody toward the end of the Clone Wars, Offee would not last much longer, falling victim to Order 66. 

The Dark Woman

Perhaps the most dedicated female Jedi, the Dark Woman believed Jedi should not even own an identity and therefore gave up her name, An’ya Kuro.  

And while she became a phenomenal teacher in the Jedi Arts, she also failed Aurra Sing, who would turn to the Dark Side. Because of her failure, the Dark Woman spent time in self-imposed exile before returning to the Jedi Order. 

While she survived The Great Jedi Purge, Darth Vader eventually found and killed her. 

Ahsoka Tano

Tano played a key role following the Clone Wars when establishing rebel cells. But before she survived The Great Jedi Purge, she spent a great deal of the Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan. 

Following the Clone Wars, she joined forces with Bail Organa and the rebels, and managed his intel network under the name Fulcrum. Of course, her relentless work with the rebels would lead her to cross paths with Darth Vader, who, at the time, she did not realize was her former Master. 

Tano would later confront Darth Sidious, cross paths with Luke Skywalker, and even provide inspiration to Rey (along with other Jedi) during the latter’s final battle with Darth Sidious. 

Of all the female Jedi listed, Tano had  direct contact with main characters from the Prequel, Original, and Sequel Trilogies. 

Who is the Strongest Female Jedi?

Rey Skywalker

A former scavenger and protagonist of the Sequel Trilogy, Rey was the paternal granddaughter of Darth Sidious. However, she inherited Sidious’ Force-sensitivity, much to her parents’ dismay. 

She became the Padawan of Luke Skywalker and later, Leia, Rey underwent similar tribulations as their father, Anakin, when she realized her family origins, became tempted, and nearly fell to the Dark Side after confronting Darth Sidious. 

In the end, Ben Solo, the last of the Skywalker bloodline, would turn Rey from the Dark Side and she further vanquished her grandfather, dying in the effort. Ben, however, sacrificed himself to resurrect Rey, who subsequently took the surname Skywalker.