When I turned 16, my parents gave me my ‘Ellie’ nameplate necklace - and I have never taken it off.
While there are some jewellery pieces that I am constantly switching up - beaded bracelets, striking pendants, kitsch rings and chunky chains that come on and off depending on the occasion or mood, my personalised piece has stood the test of time, adorning my neck for over 13 years.
No matter where I am or what I am doing, from black-tie weddings to running the London marathon, there will always be gold hoops on my ears and layered chains around my neck, one of which is my treasured nameplate necklace.
Name necklaces were popularised in the 80s and 90s. For many, it’s SATC’s Carrie necklace that instantly springs to mind, but has origins in Black and Latinx communities as a symbol of individuality. In the latter decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a rapper who didn’t exhibit diamond-encrusted custom jewellery.
It is a trend that has endured where personalised pieces have transcended the notion of trend - established alongside diamond tennis bracelets and pearl adornments in their timelessness. In fact, their popularity is only growing. Initial and name jewellery combats conformity and offers a type of customisation that is often lacking in the fashion space. And as my parents correctly thought, they also make perfect presents, providing a bespoke, thoughtful touch.
Name and initial pieces can be worn alone as stand-out pieces or layered with other chains. The market is awash with options across all price points: punctuated with diamonds at Annoushka or oversized at Astrid & Miyu, there are designs to suit all tastes and styles.
Beyond just the word itself, the customisation continues through the choice of font – italicised script or block letters – and birthstone embellishments.
Spell it out with our favourite initial and name jewellery below
Daisy Jewellery Personalised Name Necklace 18ct Gold Plate
Set your name, your birth year or the name of your favourite person on an edgier chunky Figaro chain with this 18ct gold plated option from Daisy Jewellery. You can select up to 11 characters for the nameplate necklace and it comes in the brand’s signature script. It is also available in sterling silver.
Buy now £119.00, Daisy Jewellery
Edge of Ember Say My Name Necklace
If you’re looking for a name necklace that is slightly different from the rest, this may be the one for you. Each individual letter of your name is slightly separated by the chain detail to create a stylish and refined design. You can select up to eight letters which are crafted in 14k recycled gold and set on a 16 inch chain that can extend to 18 inches. It has been hallmarked by the Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office.
Buy now £305.00, Edge of Ember
Name Necklaces Direct
The customisation options are endless with the sheer variety available on Name Necklaces Direct which make nameplate necklaces their bread and butter. There are a range of fonts, the option to add gemstone adornments and yellow, rose and white gold settings. Take an alternative approach with the gothic script or keep it classic with italicising. You can even add a heart, a butterfly or a star.
Buy now £225.00, Name Necklaces Direct
The Name Jewellery 18ct Gold Double Thickness Classic Name Necklace
The Name Jewellery will allow you to create a personalised piece in 18ct yellow gold, white gold or rose gold variations. Ideal for those with more unusual names, you can specify exactly what to write with an italic font design and a refined chain. You can embed it too with the stone of your choosing, be it a birthstone or a preferred colour and dictate where to embed it (as a full stop or to mark a letter). The chain length ranges from 40 to 55cm.
Buy now £254.15, The Name Jewellery
Abbott Lyon Molly Smith Arabic Name Necklace
Opt for your name in Arabic with a necklace from Abbott Lyon. Composed of 18k gold-plated stainless steel or polished stainless steel, there two styles available to choose from, whether you want your name spelt out in classic style or crystal adorned as well as the ability to add birthstones. The chain length ranges from 14 to 24 inches. The piece is handmade to order and has a two-year warranty.
Buy now, Abbott Lyon
ICY Bubble Letter Initial Necklace
It is no doubt due to Hailey Bieber that searches for the term 'bubble necklace' have increased by 103 per cent. The model is often photographed wearing her signature ‘B’ necklace that was created by NYC-based jeweller Alex Moss. PRYA has recreated the style with the same retro 2000s appeal. The letters are made from 18k gold or classic silver plating and punctuated with cubic zirconia stone. It’s tarnish-free and water-resistant.
Buy now £58.00, Prya
Astrid & Miyu Initial Bold Pendant Necklace
Wear the initial of your partner, child or yourself loud and proud with this bold charm from Astrid & Miyu. The letter is set on a dainty pendant chain that is easy to layer up with a choker or shorter style. The brand takes a sustainable approach to its creation by opting for recycled sterling silver. Each letter in the alphabet comes in rhodium-plated sterling silver or 18k gold-plated recycled sterling silver.
Buy now £140.00, Astrid & Miyu
Otiumberg Gold Vermeil Name Pendant
These pendant necklaces from Otiumberg are made to order and take a unique approach to spelling out your name through the vertical design. While remaining affordable, each order is designed and handcrafted using sterling silver or 9-karat solid gold. Due to the custom approach, it does take slightly longer to arrive so bear this in mind if you’re shopping for a gift.
Buy now £120.00, Otiumberg
Loveness Lee A Alphabet Necklace
This handmade initial jewellery from Loveness Lee takes a more abstract approach to the alphabet to create charms that are not obviously letters. The brand brings its signature textured style into the equation to form a statement style that can be worn alone or layered up – be it with additional letters or an array of chains at different lengths. The necklace is cast in certified recycled sterling silver and comes in both argenti silver and 18ct gold plating.
Buy now £150.00, Loveness Lee
Hey Harper Single Letter Huggies
Sitting pride of place in your jewellery box for years to come is Hey Harper’s mission and the brand achieves this through its waterproof bling that doesn’t tarnish with wear.
The letter huggies come individually so you can get creative with your spelling. They are made from stainless steel with a 14k golden colour PVD. You never need to take them off – no matter what you have in store, whether showering or swimming.
Buy now £36.00, Hey Harper
Missoma Engravable Heart Signet Ring
Missoma has an ever-growing selection of jewellery that you can give a personal touch through engraving. This spans necklaces, bracelets and rings. This heart signet ring caught our eye as a romantic way to pay homage to your loved one. You can embellish it with the initial of your choosing and it comes in 18ct recycled gold plated vermeil on recycled sterling silver.
Buy now £89.00, Missoma
Annoushka Initials 18ct Yellow Gold Diamond A Bracelet
The instantly recognisable and heavily duped initial bracelet from Annoushka is a classic for a reason. It has a timeless design and combines 18ct yellow gold with reverse-set diamonds that are striking yet understated. It is part of the brand’s Signatures collection and can be paired with the matching necklace.
Buy now £750.00, Annoushka
Lisa Angel Rainbow Crystal Initial Necklace
Bring a pop of colour to your jewellery collection with these initial necklaces from Lisa Angel. The pendant pieces are adorned with rainbow crystals in a variety of hues for an ornate and elegant take on the trend.
Buy now £14.00, Lisa Angel
Rachel Jackson Initial Necklace
As once worn by Kylie Jenner on the cover of ES Magazine, these Art Deco-inspired necklaces are composed of a 22-carat gold plated sterling silver that can be worn independently or layered to spell out a word or name. The matching rings and earrings are also available and will make an ideal gift for your jewellery-obsessed friend.
Buy now £75.00, Rachel Jackson
Alex Monroe Gold-Plated Floral Letter Alphabet Necklace
You may have spotted this Alex Monroe necklace on your Instagram feed as the pendant has become a street-style favourite. The initials are adorned with an intricate floral design sculpted from gold-plated sterling silver.
Buy now £150.00, Liberty
Edge of Ember Diamond Initial Necklace
Delight friends and family with a diamond alphabet charm set on a 14k solid gold chain.
Buy now £345.00, Edge of Ember
Missoma Curly Molten Initial Pendant Necklace
Spell out how much you care with a Missoma pendant. Featuring a cursive initial placed on a fine trace chain, the piece is perfect for layering. The jewel is crafted from recycled materials and has a carbon-negative footprint, meaning you can shop stylishly and sustainably in one fell swoop.
Buy now £125.00, Missoma
Liberty 9ct Gold Initial Liberty Signet Ring
Whether you’d like to wear yours or your best friend’s initial on your finger, this nine-karat gold signet ring from Liberty is a fantastic choice. Each ring is made to order and small batch crafted by artisans in Italy, making these delicate pieces even more worth your while.
Buy now £244.02, Liberty
Lily & Roo Gold Small Pearl Initial Letter Choker
Give your jewellery collection the personal touch with this initial charm-embellished pearl necklace. Whether you’re gifting yourself or a loved one, it offers a special, bespoke addition and comes in gold or silver.
Buy now £170.00, Lily & Roo
D.Louise Initial Necklace
D. Louise is another label that specialises and excels in all things waterproof jewellery. The designs, which include the latest bijoux trends from paperclip necklaces to chunky hoops, are offered with a lifetime warranty so you can have peace of mind that they wont tarnish or go green almost directly from the packaging. This initial piece gives the personal touch to your jewellery collection and has a stainless steel construction with 14k gold PVD coating.
Buy now £55.00, D.Louise
Aurum + Grey
Price: ££
London-based jewellery label Aurum + Grey has a celebrity fan base that includes the Kardashian-Jenners, Kaia Gerber and Bella Hadid. The brand may be best known for its delicate initial necklaces that are designed to be layered but the collection extends far beyond these customised designs to include earrings, necklaces and bracelets all of which are produced and personalised in the UK.
Buy now, Aurum + Grey
