MONOGRAM ETIQUETTE

SINGLE-LETTER MONOGRAMS

Traditionally, single-letter monograms represent the last name. That goes for both men and unmarried women. Often, modern single-letter monograms for young unmarried women will feature the first letter of their first names.

FIRST NAME-SALLY

LAST NAME-DONOVAN

TWO-LETTER MONOGRAMS

Men and women can also use a two-letter monogram with just their first and last initials.

FIRST AND LAST NAME- SALLY DONOVAN

Engaged couples should use the first name initials connected with an ampersand.

FIRST NAME OF EACH PARTNER-NATALIE & ETHAN

It is also appropriate for partners to use the initial of each first or last name.

LAST NAME OF EACH PARTNER-OLIVIA & CHASE

THREE-LETTER MONOGRAMS

SAME SIZE LETTERS

Single men and women use the first letters of their first, middle and last name, in that order

FULL NAME IN LINE-ANDREW JAMES MALONE

LARGE SURNAME IN THE MIDDLE

For married couples, the surname initial goes in the middle, and the individual's first initials go on either side. The wife's first initial is on the left of the surname initial and the husband's first initial is on the right, as in ladies go first.

MARRIED COUPLE-EILEEN & DAVID WALKER

For married women, individually, it is tradition for the woman to use her married name initial as the middle initial in the three-letter monograms, with her first initial on the left and maiden name initial on the right.

MARRIED WOMAN-BETTY HARTMAN KAPLAN

Single or married men and women can also use their first name initial, married name initial, and middle name initial.

SINGLE OR MARRIED MAN AND WOMEN-LAURIE ANNE PIERSON

Same-sex partners can follow any of the rules above. If both are keeping their last names, both first initials of partners' last names are used together as the surname. They can also add their first initials on either side of the surname initials. If CLH and FEN were same-sex partners, their monograms would be either of the following:

LAST NAMES-HARLOW NELSON