Choose script letters if you want a nameplate that flows like handwriting and suits longer names; choose block letters if you want bold, easy-to-read letters that work best for short names and initials. Both are cut from solid gold, so the choice comes down to the name, the look and the person wearing it.
Font is the first thing people notice on a nameplate, and it is the question we hear most at our counter in Orange, NJ. Here is how we help people decide.
What does a script nameplate look like?
Script letters connect to each other in one continuous line, like a signature. The first letter is usually a large, decorative capital, and the rest of the name flows from it in lowercase.
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Feel: soft, feminine, personal.
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Best for: names of four to eight letters, where the connected letters have room to flow.
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Strength: because every letter touches the next, a script plate is one solid piece of gold with few weak points.
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Watch for: some letters, like a lowercase r or s, can look similar in script. We always check readability with you before we make it.
What does a block letter nameplate look like?
Block letters stand upright and separate, often in all capitals. To keep them together as one piece, they usually sit on a bar, inside a frame, or touch at the edges.
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Feel: bold, clean, modern. Popular with men and with anyone who wants the name to read from a distance.
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Best for: short names, nicknames, initials and words like a family name or a neighborhood.
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Strength: the bar or frame behind the letters adds support.
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Watch for: long names in block capitals can get wide. We may suggest a smaller letter height or a different layout.
Script vs block: quick comparison
|
Script |
Block |
| Look |
Flowing, handwritten |
Upright, bold |
| Readability |
Good up close |
Easy from a distance |
| Name length |
Medium to long names |
Short names, initials |
| Usual case |
Capital then lowercase |
All capitals |
| Common add-ons |
Heart, underline, crown |
Bar, frame, border |
How do you choose the right font for a name?
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Count the letters. Three or four letters often look stronger in block. Six or more usually flow better in script.
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Look at the shapes. Names with tall letters like l, h, k and b give script a nice rhythm. Names with lots of round letters like o, a and e can look great in either.
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Think about how it will be worn. Over a T-shirt or on a longer chain, block reads better. Close to the neck and on its own, script shines.
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Picture their handwriting. Someone who signs with loops usually loves script. Someone who prints in capitals usually wants block.
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Try it in person. Seeing a real name in gold makes the decision obvious for most people.
Can you mix script and block, or add symbols?
Yes. Some designs pair a script name with a small block word, or add a heart, crown, star or underline bar. Hearts are especially popular in script because the tail of the last letter can flow right into them. Symbols also give the letters more to hold on to, which can make the plate sturdier. Ask us what works for the name you have in mind.
Does the font change how long or wide the nameplate is?
It can. Block capitals take up more width per letter than lowercase script, so the same name can come out wider in block. For very long names, see Short Names, Long Names and Initials: Making Any Name Work. For the full list of choices, start with our Custom Nameplate Necklace Guide.
Visit or text us
Not sure which font suits the name? Come see examples at 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. You can also browse our nameplate necklaces to compare script and block designs side by side.
Script vs Block Letters: How to Choose a Nameplate Font
Choose script letters if you want a nameplate that flows like handwriting and suits longer names; choose block letters if you want bold, easy-to-read letters that work best for short names and initials. Both are cut from solid gold, so the choice comes down to the name, the look and the person wearing it.
Font is the first thing people notice on a nameplate, and it is the question we hear most at our counter in Orange, NJ. Here is how we help people decide.
What does a script nameplate look like?
Script letters connect to each other in one continuous line, like a signature. The first letter is usually a large, decorative capital, and the rest of the name flows from it in lowercase.
What does a block letter nameplate look like?
Block letters stand upright and separate, often in all capitals. To keep them together as one piece, they usually sit on a bar, inside a frame, or touch at the edges.
Script vs block: quick comparison
How do you choose the right font for a name?
Can you mix script and block, or add symbols?
Yes. Some designs pair a script name with a small block word, or add a heart, crown, star or underline bar. Hearts are especially popular in script because the tail of the last letter can flow right into them. Symbols also give the letters more to hold on to, which can make the plate sturdier. Ask us what works for the name you have in mind.
Does the font change how long or wide the nameplate is?
It can. Block capitals take up more width per letter than lowercase script, so the same name can come out wider in block. For very long names, see Short Names, Long Names and Initials: Making Any Name Work. For the full list of choices, start with our Custom Nameplate Necklace Guide.
Visit or text us
Not sure which font suits the name? Come see examples at 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. You can also browse our nameplate necklaces to compare script and block designs side by side.