Funeral letter tributes
What to Write on a Funeral Tribute Ribbon
Most funeral tribute ribbons and letter displays use either a relationship (MUM, DAD, NAN, GRANDAD, SON, SIS) or a first name, and there's no single correct choice, it's simply whatever reflects how you knew the person. Letter count affects price on hired letter tributes, so a short relationship word and a longer first name aren't necessarily the same cost. If more than one person wants to order a tribute, it's worth a quick family check to avoid duplicate wording.
Common relationship words
The most frequently chosen wording is a family relationship, kept short and immediately recognisable:
- MUM, MUM, DAD, NAN, GRANDAD
- SON, DAUGHTER, SISTER, SIS, BROTHER
- NANA, GRANDMA, POPS, and other family names in everyday use
Using a first name instead
A first name is just as common, and can feel more personal, especially for a piece from friends, colleagues, or a wider circle who knew the person by name rather than by family role. We've arranged tributes reading GRANDAD, SIS, and full first names like NINA, all straightforward choices, just different in tone. Some families order more than one tribute: a relationship word from close family, and a name from others.
A few practical things worth knowing
Letter count affects the price tier on a hired letter tribute, so it's worth knowing roughly how many letters you want before enquiring. Pricing is one word per tribute, so a two-word combination (like a name and a relationship) is usually arranged as two separate pieces rather than one long ribbon.
Double-check spelling before ordering, particularly for less common names, and if a nickname was how the person was actually known, that's a perfectly natural choice too. There's rarely a single 'right' answer, it comes down to what feels true to the relationship.
Common questions
Is it better to use a name or a relationship on a tribute?
Neither is more correct, it depends on the relationship. Close family often choose a relationship word (MUM, DAD, NAN), while friends or a wider circle often prefer a first name. Both are equally common.
Can I use a nickname instead of a formal name?
Yes, a nickname the person was actually known by is a natural and common choice, it can feel more personal than a formal name.
How does letter count affect the price?
Hired letter tributes are priced in bands by letter count, 1-4 letters, 5-6 letters, and 7 or more, priced per word. A short word like MUM and a longer name will fall into different price bands.
What if two family members want to order tributes with the same wording?
It's worth a quick check with the wider family before ordering, so tributes don't unintentionally duplicate. There's no issue with duplicating if that's genuinely what's wanted, it's just worth being a deliberate choice rather than an accident.
Ready to order a letter tribute?
Hand-arranged letter and word tributes, from £60, delivered directly to your funeral director or crematorium and collected afterwards.