Single Letter Monogram First or Last Name?

Letter A Monogram

You’ve got an awesome gift idea for a friend or family member! You plan to get their name as a monogram emblazoned on a special item that quintessentially represents them. But you want to make the monogram stand out and use a single letter, so do you use their first or last name?

Traditionally, single letter monogramming is done using the first initial of the person’s last name. However, it is indeed becoming more popular to use the first initial of the person’s first name or even their popular nickname as the single letter for the monogram. But lets explore more options.

Single Letter Monogram Etiquette

Men

Typically if you’re after a single letter monogram for a man you would use his last name as this tends to be his surname from birth, as opposed to a woman, whose surname often changes after marriage.

Woman

Whilst traditionally, a single-lettered monogram for a woman would use her first name so as to avoid ageing any object that featured said monogram after they married, in today’s modern world women often keep their family surnames after marriage. Hence why it’s more popular to see single-letter monograms for women using their first names. Indeed, even certain pieces of clothing, like jewellery, almost always demand using the first letter of their first name. It’s a far more personal connection.

Children

Because children often establish their sense of identity in the early stages of their life predominantly through their first name, I’d suggest that any gift or item for a child with a single letter monogram should use the first letter of their first name.

Ideal Gifts To Monogram

  • Bathrobes
  • Handkerchiefs
  • Wine or champagne glasses
  • Whisky or beer glasses
  • Mugs
  • Decorative signs for house entrance
  • Cigar tray
  • Wallet or purse
  • Handbag
  • Watch
  • Hipflask
  • Jewellery
  • Necktie
  • Cufflinks

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