What to Engrave on a Necklace: Ideas for Every Person

The engraving is what turns a necklace into their necklace. The hardest part is usually deciding what to say in so few characters. Here are ideas that fit, grouped by who you're giving to, plus a few tips so it comes out exactly right.

First, how much fits

Every one of our personalized necklaces is made to order in the USA, exactly as you type it. Here's the space you have on each:

• Engraved 4-Sided Stick Necklace: up to 20 characters on each of its four sides. All four sides are engraved, so plan something for each one.
• Heart Photo Necklace and Circle Photo Necklace: your photo on the front, plus optional engraving on the back. If you add engraving, you get two lines and both are engraved, so a name and a date work well.
• Custom Name Necklace with Birthstone: one name or word, up to 11 characters.
• Flower Name Necklace: one name, up to 10 characters, with a birth flower.
• Custom Monogram Name Necklace: a name of up to 9 letters, woven into one monogram.

For Mom

• Each child's name on a different side of the 4-sided bar
• Lily, Noah & Ava
• Est. 2019, the year she became a mom
• Love you more

For your wife, husband or partner

• Your names: Meghan & Jack
• Your wedding date: 06.14.2025, or in Roman numerals, VI.XIV.MMXXV
• Where you met, as coordinates: 40.7128N 74.0060W
• Always & Forever
• A line from your song, or a private joke only the two of you get

For a daughter or son

• You are my sunshine
• Their birth date and time
• Love, Dad or Love, Mom on the back of a photo necklace

For Grandma

• A grandchild's name on each side of the bar
• Grandma's sunshine
• A grandchild's photo, with Love you always on the back

More ideas in our gifts for Grandma guide.

For a best friend or sister

• Sisters forever
• The year you met
• Still my favorite

To remember someone

• Their name and years: 1948 - 2024
• Forever in my heart
• Always with you
• A favorite photo, with their name and dates on the back

Tips for a perfect engraving

• Count spaces. Spaces and punctuation count toward the character limit.
• Use numbers for dates. 06.14.2025 fits far better than June 14th, 2025.
• Keep symbols simple. Stick to letters, numbers and basic punctuation like & and periods. Emoji can't be engraved.
• Check spelling and capitals. We engrave exactly what you type, and because each piece is made just for them, personalized necklaces can't be returned for a change of mind.
• Read it out loud. If it sounds like them, it's right.