A classic monogram gift is among the most popular personalized gifts you can get for someone, especially for weddings, bridal showers, or birthdays. Here we'll show you the essentials of monogramming: how to write them, whether it is a personal monogram or a couple one, the different styles available, and cool suggestions on how to apply them to different products.

But first...

What's a monogram?

A monogram is a typography design that connects letters, traditionally in a flowy, cursive font but also in bold, modern, and graphic styles. These designs often intertwine initials or wrap them within a decorative border, creating a unique piece of calligraphy artwork.

Monograms typically represent initials—whether it’s a person’s first, middle, and last name, a couple’s initials (his & hers, plus last name), or even a combination of family members’ initials like siblings. They usually feature 1, 2, or 3 letters, with 3 being the most popular choice for a well-balanced composition.

Because of their elegant and meaningful design, monograms make for perfect personalized gifts. Whether you're looking for gift ideas for wedding gifts, anniversaries, or special occasions, or seeking custom gifts that feel unique and thoughtful, monogrammed items are a timeless choice!

But most important a monogram tells a story. The meaning of monograms depends on what initials they capture, this makes them great for any type of gift. For example, for a wedding gift, a 3 initial monogram could celebrate the new family engagement by representing the bride and groom's first names and the family name. On the other hand, the same 3 initial monograms would make a perfect gift for a mum on Mother's Day with the initials of her 3 kids.

How to monogram

The order in which letters go on a monogram can depend on a couple of factors, but roughly they can be categorized into 2 types: personal monogram and couples monogram.

Personal Monogram

A personal monogram consists of a combination of three initials: first, middle, and last names. For a single-letter monogram, it's very easy, people use their first or last initial–the former is more modern, the latter more traditional.

Three-letter monograms use first, middle, and last names. The order of the letters usually depends on the design of the monogram (and the taste of the customer of course!). If people don't have a middle name, they can always use their second surname (mostly used in Hispanic culture) or stick to a 2 initial monogram.

A woman's initials could change when she ties the knot. If this is the case and they take their husband's last name in place of their own, they can drop the middle name from the monogram and just use her first and last name together with her husband's last name.

But tradition isn't the only way, so remember there is no right or wrong way to monogram your initials, it is just up to each one's personal preference. What's good is to give your customers enough options so they can reflect themselves in your monograms.

Couples Monograms

Things can get a little trickier with couples' monograms since there are quite a lot of options. But again, it is entirely up to the couple how they want to represent their family with a monogram. However, since it is a very popular monogram choice for gifts (especially during wedding season) it's important to have some guidelines to avoid monogramming faux pas!

A married couple who's chosen to share the last name has lots of options at their disposal. They can use their shared last initial for a single-letter monogram, combine their two first initials into a 2 letter monogram, or they can go for a 3 letter one. The formula for a 3-letter married monogram is as follows: first, last, first. This works for husband and wife, as well as same-sex couples who are sharing one last name. As you've seen 3 letter monograms are super versatile.

If the newlyweds decide to share a hyphenated last name, a hyphen could also be used in the monogram.

Finally, when a couple has two different last names, it gets a little more tricky. The 3-letter monogram is off the table, and instead, a 2-letter monogram will work best, combining each of the couple's last name initials. This is very popular with monograms that include props, such as ampersands, plus signs, bars, etc.

Types of Monograms

Most monograms can be divided into two main categories: monograms where letters are all the same size - block monogram - and monograms where the center initial is larger.

Block monograms are only used for personal monogramming. In this case, the initials are ordered like people's names: first, middle, and last.

Monograms with the center initial slightly bigger can be used both for personal or couples monograms. For personal monograms, the ordering is always first name, last name, and middle name. This style of monogram is often used for personalizing women's items, most menu items use the more straightforward block style. One thing's for sure, the larger center initial style is almost always used for joint or couple monograms.

If you are looking for resources to create your own monogram design, you can find a great number of monogram fonts and ornaments in this lovely post by Damask Love.

What and How to Monogram

You can add initials to just about anything, from robes and jewelry to glassware. But that doesn't mean you should add them to everything. A little personalization can go a long way.

Depending on what you are monogramming, what style of monogram you can choose? Traditional monograms with interlocking fonts and curly scripts, go great with robes, linen, and kitchenware. Modern monograms, with a more contemporary look, work great with statement jewelry, tech accessories like phone cases and notebook sleeves, pouches, and other fashion accessories.

The same applies to how the monogram is applied—different surfaces require different techniques. Most robes and linens feature embroidered monograms, while glassware and kitchenware often rely on engraving. Print-on-demand methods like digital printing and sublimation work great for stationery, apparel, accessories, and home décor.

When it comes to monogrammed jewelry, the technique depends on the statement the piece makes. However, engraving, hand stamping, and laser cutting are among the most popular methods for imprinting initials onto timeless pieces.

Monograms are a fantastic way to create a personalized gift, making them perfect for special occasions, unique keepsakes, or stylish everyday items.

Here are some stunning monogram examples that will inspire you to add some monogramming magic to your print-on-demand store!

They all look amazing, right? 🤩

The good news is, you can easily add monograms to your products and turn them into personalized ones with Customily! If you want to let customers monogram their own gifts online, join Customily today and learn how to easily apply monograms to any product in your store with our 9-day free trial!

📌 Click here to install Customily on your Shopify store, with a 9-day free trial.

And if you're selling on Etsy you can also enjoy a free trial to see everything you can create with Customily. Don't miss it!

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