Monogram Etiquette
Monograms are a classic way to personalize items such as clothing, accessories, and stationery. However, it's important to choose the right monogram style for different people and occasions. In this guide, we will go over the correct monogram styles for various groups of people.
- Children
For children, the Traditional monogram style is most appropriate. This style features the first and middle name on either side of the last name. For example Emma Grace Thompson, would be eTg. Or you could do block style, with the initials of the first, middle, and last names all the same size. For example, if the child's name is Emma Grace Thompson, the monogram would be EGT.
- Single Woman or Man
For a single woman or man, the traditional monogram style is most appropriate. This style features three letters in a stacked format, with the initial of the last name in the center and the first name initial on the left and the middle name initial on the right. For example, if the name is Sarah Marie Johnson, the monogram would be SJM.
- Double First Name
For someone with a double first name, such as Anne Marie or John Paul, the monogram can either use both first initials or just the first letter of the first name. For example, if the name is Anne Marie Smith, the monogram could be AMS or AM.
- Person with a Title
For a man or woman with a title, such as Dr. John Smith or Professor David Lee, the monogram style would be the same as for a single man/woman. This style features three letters in a stacked format, with the initial of the last name in the center and the first and middle name initials on either side. For example, if the name is Dr. John Smith, the monogram would be JDS.
- Engaged Couple
For an engaged couple, the monogram style can either use the first initial of each person's name or the first initial of the shared last name. For example, if the couple's names are Sarah Johnson and David Lee, the monogram could be SJ DL or SLD.
- Married Couple
For a married couple, the traditional monogram style is most appropriate. This style features three letters in a stacked format, with the initial of the last name in the center and the first initial of each spouse on either side. For example, if the couple's names are Mary and John Smith, the monogram would be MSJ.
- Married Woman
For a married woman, there are two options for monogram styles. The traditional monogram style can be used, as described above, with the initial of the last name in the center, the first initial of the husband's name on the left, and the first initial of the wife's name on the right. Alternatively, the married woman can use a monogram that features her first name initial, married last name initial, and maiden name initial in that order. For example, if the woman's name is Emily Rose Johnson and she marries John Smith, the monogram would be EJS.
8. Person with a capitalized article such as Von, Du, or De
When it comes to monogramming a two-word last name with a capitalized article such as Von, Du, or De, the general rule is to include the article in the monogram. For example, if the name is Caroline Beth Von Hansel, the monogram would be CBVH, with the "V" representing the Von. If the article is lowercase, such as "de" or "du", it should also be included in the monogram. For example, if the name is Jean-Pierre Du Bois, the monogram would be JPDB, with the "D" representing the Du. It's also worth noting that if the article is part of the last name, such as "Van" in the name "Van Gogh", it is not considered an article and should be included in the monogram. In this case, the monogram would be VGG for Vincent Van Gogh.
In conclusion, choosing the right monogram style is important to ensure that it looks appropriate and stylish. By following these guidelines, you can choose the right monogram style for different people and occasions! See our blog post about the different monogram styles!