Friday, January 27, 2023

Monograms 101: Our Guide to Monograms and Monogram Etiquette

 What is a monogram?

A monogram is a typographic design consisting of two or more combined or interlaced initials –
usually a first, middle, and last name, but you can also do a couple's monogram with two first names and a shared last name, or just the two first names. 



What type of items can be monogrammed? 

As a good Southern woman would say, anything that's sitting still! At Lavender & Company, we love to monogram robes, blankets, and towels to really personalize our favorite gifts. 

What order do initials go in a 3 letter monogram? 

It depends on the style you like. A three letter monogram can go first, middle, last name, or can have the last name in the center. 
  • A more simple and modern/clean look is a block style monogram. Take the name Rose Anna Smith - you can style it RAS.
  • You can also style this name rSa, with the S larger, and the R and A on either side.
For married couples, the woman's name is always first. For Rose Anna Smith and David Michael Brown, a three letter monogram would be: 
  • RDB in a block style monogram font
  • rBd in a more stylized or script monogram font.


how to style monograms | monogram etiquette


What order do initial go in a 4 letter monogram? 

There are a few instances in which you'd use a four letter monogram - if you have two middle names, or if you have a hyphenated last name and still use your middle name.
  • If you have two middle names (Rose Anna Claire Smith): you'd style your monogram RACS in a block monogram style font.  
  • If you have a hyphenated last name and still use your middle name (Rose Anne Smith-Brown), you'd style your monogram rSBa, with the last names larger in the center. 
how to style monograms | monogram etiquette


Does a husband or wife's name go first in a monogram? 

A wife's name always goes first in a monogram. 
  • If a same sex couple has taken one person's name (Chris Jones has taken David Brown's name, they are now Chris and David Brown), the person with the new name would come first (in this example, Chris).
  • If a couple keeps their individual names or both hyphenate (Chris and David Jones-Brown), they could use a two-letter monogram (JB for Jones-Brown), or the 4-letter hyphenated monogram example from above (in this example, cJBd). 

Can a full name be monogrammed? 

Yes, you can monogram your full name on many of our products. In fact, we encourage it! We especially love a first name on a robe, blanket, and especially towels for kids' bathrooms (that way, everyone knows which one is theirs).