What to Write on a Personalised Print: Words, Ideas and Examples
Quick answer
The best words for a personalised print are specific ones: names, dates, places, nicknames and little details only the recipient would recognise. A personalised word art print from Word Art Prints starts at £9.99 as an instant digital download, and you can preview your words free before you commit. If you want to browse designs first, the sports and fitness prints are a good place to start.
Updated October 2026
In this guide
- Which words make a print feel personal
- Ideas for milestone birthdays and anniversaries
- What to write for hobbies and sports
- What to write for pets and places
- A comparison table of example prints
- Example word lists you can copy
- How it works, plus a FAQ
Need it today?
If you are shopping at the last minute, every print can be a digital download that arrives instantly (from £9.99). You can print it at home or at a local print shop the same day, and you get a free preview first. Framed and unframed prints are posted (3-5 working days in the UK), so they suit buyers who have a little more time.
What makes the words on a personalised print feel personal?
The biggest mistake with a word art print is filling it with words that could describe anyone: “amazing”, “special”, “best”. They are fine in small doses, but they are not what people remember. The words that make someone smile are the ones that could only belong to them.
Think in five categories and pick a few from each:
- Names: their name, partner, children, grandchildren, pets, even a nickname from school.
- Dates: a birth year, wedding date, the year they started or won something.
- Places: a hometown, a favourite course, a holiday spot, the street you grew up on.
- Memories: a trip, a match, a running joke, a phrase they always say.
- Qualities: patient, stubborn, generous, funny, the things you would say about them if you had the chance.
A balanced print mixes all five. The qualities say what you feel; the names, dates and places prove you were paying attention.
What should you write on a milestone birthday or anniversary print?
Milestones suit word art because the number itself becomes part of the story. For a long marriage, the Personalised 70th Anniversary Word Art Print (£9.99) gives you room for the couple’s names, the wedding date and the places they have lived. It suits children or grandchildren buying for parents or grandparents, and works well with words like “Platinum”, “Still holding hands” and the names of every child and grandchild.
If you are celebrating a different anniversary, our guide to the anniversary word art print goes deeper on wording.
For birthdays, pick a design that matches the person’s passion and let the age be the headline. A dad turning 60 will probably appreciate something tied to his hobby, and our 60th birthday gift ideas for Dad has more thoughts on that. Good milestone words include the year they were born, “Legend”, their kids’ names, and one or two private jokes.
What do you write on a print for someone who loves sport?
Sport is where word art really shines, because fans have so much vocabulary: positions, teams, moments, rivals and rituals.
- For a golfer, the Personalised Golf 60th Birthday Word Art Print (£9.99) suits a long-time club member. Add their home course, their handicap story, “Hole in one” if it happened, and the names of their regular playing partners. There are also versions for other ages, such as the Personalised Golf 30th Birthday Word Art Print and the Personalised golf 90th word art print.
- For a netball player, the Netball 40th word art print gift (£9.99) fits someone still playing in a social league, while the Unique netball 18th word art print suits a teenager. Use positions (GS, WD, C), team names and club years.
- For a racket-sport fan, the Personalised pickleball word art print and Personalised Squash Player Word Art Print (both £9.99) work well with club names, court nicknames and a doubles partner’s name.
- For a football supporter, the Personalised Football Word Art Print — Red Clubs and the green clubs version (£9.99 each) suit fans who want their own matchday memories rather than a generic badge.
What do you write for a cyclist, biker or angler?
Riders and anglers tend to have very particular stories, so lean on routes, kit and records.
For a cyclist, the Word art print of a female cyclist 60th (£9.99) suits a woman who still clocks up the miles. The Bike 49th word art print works for a rider just before a big birthday. Try climb names, a favourite café stop, her riding group and “Still climbing”.
For a motorbike fan, the Personalised Motorbike word art print (£9.99) pairs well with road names, trip years and the bike’s nickname. We have more ideas in our motorbike word art print guide.
For an angler, the Personalised fishing 40th word art print (£9.99) is ideal. Add the lake or river, personal-best weights, lure names and “Just one more cast”.
What can you write on a print for a pet, a place or a passion?
Not every gift is about an age or a sport. For a dog lover, the Personalised Labrador word print and the Personalised Labrador head print (£9.99 each) let you fill the shape with the dog’s name, favourite walks, naughty habits and adoption date.
For places, the Scotland word art print gift and the Las Vegas word art print (£9.99 each) work for a hometown, a honeymoon or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For a career or hobby, the NHS word art print, the Personalised theatre mask word art print gift and the Chess Rook word art print (all £9.99) are good starting points. For a teacher, our guide to the teacher word art print has plenty of wording ideas.
Which print suits which person? A quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Example words to include | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalised 70th Anniversary Word Art Print | Long-married couples | Names, wedding date, children, “Platinum” | £9.99 |
| Personalised Golf 60th Birthday Word Art Print | Golfers turning 60 | Home course, playing partners, “Birdie” | £9.99 |
| Netball 40th word art print gift | Social-league netballers | Position, team name, club years | £9.99 |
| Word art print of a female cyclist 60th | Keen women cyclists | Climbs, cafe stops, riding group | £9.99 |
| Personalised fishing 40th word art print | Anglers | Lake name, personal best, lure names | £9.99 |
| Personalised Labrador word print | Labrador owners | Dog’s name, walks, adoption date | £9.99 |
What words should you put on a personalised print? Three examples you can copy
Here are three starting lists to adapt. Swap in your own details; the specifics are what make them work.
For a golfer’s milestone birthday
- Name and nickname (for example “Big Dave”)
- The year they were born and the age they are turning
- Home club and favourite hole
- Playing partners’ names
- “Hole in one”, “Nineteenth hole”, “Still a 14 handicap”
For a long-married couple’s anniversary
- Both names and the wedding date
- The town they married in and where they have lived
- Children’s and grandchildren’s names
- Qualities: loyal, patient, laughing, together
- A private phrase, such as “Kettle’s on”
For a dog owner
- The dog’s name and any nicknames
- The date they came home
- Favourite walks and parks
- Habits: “Steals socks”, “Sofa thief”, “Loves the beach”
- Family members who adore them
A useful tip: write more words than you think you need, then trim. It is easier to cut a weak word than to remember a strong one at the last minute. And if you are unsure, ask a friend or relative to add one detail you might not know.
How it works
- Choose a print that suits the person, from over 470 designs.
- Design it with your own words: names, dates, places, memories and qualities.
- Preview it free and adjust until it feels right.
- Get it your way: an instant digital download from £9.99, or a printed or framed print delivered. Unframed prints start at £9.99, framed A4 from £22.99 and framed A3 from £30.99.
Framed prints ship within 3-5 working days in the UK and 7-15 days internationally.
FAQ
How many words should I put on a personalised word art print?
There is no fixed number, but 15 to 30 words usually looks balanced. Fewer words let each one stand out, while more words create a richer, more detailed pattern. Because you can preview the design free, you can add or remove words until it feels right.
Should I use real names or nicknames?
Both work well. Real names suit formal gifts like anniversaries and milestone birthdays, while nicknames, pet names and family in-jokes make a print feel truly personal. A mix of the two often gives the most charming result.
Can I include dates and places?
Yes, dates and places are some of the strongest words you can use. A wedding date, the year someone started a hobby, the town where you met or a favourite holiday spot all give the print a story that a shop-bought card cannot match.
What if I do not know the person’s hobbies well enough?
Ask someone close to them, or think about what they talk about most. Even two or three accurate details, such as a favourite course, a pet’s name and a catchphrase, will feel more thoughtful than a long list of generic compliments.
Can I get a personalised print quickly?
Every design can be a digital download that arrives instantly from £9.99, so you can print it at home or at a local print shop the same day. Framed and unframed prints are posted, with framed prints shipping within 3-5 working days in the UK.
Is it better to write qualities or memories?
A blend is best. Qualities like patient, funny or generous say what you value in someone, while memories, places and shared jokes show you have been paying attention. Mixing the two makes the print feel both warm and specific.
About Word Art Prints
Word Art Prints is a UK shop making personalised word art prints since 2017. With over 470 designs, every print is made to order with your own words, from names and dates to memories and places.