Name Necklace Notes, Issue 1: Three Questions Before You Pick a Style

Welcome to the first issue of Name Necklace Notes from Customize Names. Each issue answers one question we hear from people shopping for a personalized necklace, usually for someone else. This time it's the most basic one: which style should you pick?

Most name necklaces fall into three families. A nameplate spells the name out in connected script or block letters. A Greek letter piece uses the Greek alphabet for the name or initials. A circle pendant puts a name, a word or a date on a round disc. Three questions usually settle it.

1. How long is the name?

Short names (three to six letters) look balanced in almost any style. Long names, double names or a first and middle name work best in a flowing script, because joined letters keep the piece from looking stretched. If you're working with a long name, start with a cursive name necklace and write the full name out in a script font on your phone before deciding.

If the name has a hyphen, an apostrophe or an accent, decide with the family how they want it written. Spelling is the one thing nobody can fix after the piece is made.

2. Does the name carry a story?

Some names come with history attached: a grandmother's name, a name in another alphabet, a sorority or a heritage the wearer is proud of. For those, a Greek letter name necklace can say more than plain letters. Write the name out on paper first and ask someone who reads Greek to confirm the spelling, since some English letters have more than one Greek match.

3. Will she wear it every day or save it for occasions?

For everyday wear, think about the neckline she usually chooses. A small nameplate sits well with crew necks and T-shirts. A round pendant is easy to layer with a second chain. The circle name necklace is a good choice when you want room for more than one name, such as children's names or a couple's initials and a date.

If you'd like to compare several letter styles side by side, the nameplate necklaces collection shows the options on one page.

A quick checklist before you order

• Write the exact spelling down and read it back letter by letter.
• Decide on capitals: "Ava", "AVA" and "ava" look different in script.
• If there's a chain length option, choose it based on where she wears her other necklaces.
• Check the pendant size in the product details and picture it next to a coin or a ring you know.

Next issue

Next time we'll cover gift wording: when to use a nickname, a full name or just an initial. Until then, our longer name necklace guides are on the Customize Names blog, and the full shop is at customizenames.com.

Thanks for reading.
Jorwel L, Customize Names