What to Write on a Christmas Ornament: Ideas and Pens

Write a name, the year, and at most one short line on a Christmas ornament. A few words read clearly from across the room and still look good on the tree years later. For example: “The Parkers, Christmas 2026”, “Our first Christmas, 2026”, or “Mia, age 4”. Then choose a pen that suits the ornament’s surface, because a marker that works on wood can wipe straight off glass.

What to write on a Christmas ornament: ideas by recipient

These are starting points. Swap in the names and words your family actually uses.

For a family

The [Family Name]s, Christmas [Year]
[Name], [Name], [Name] and [Name], [Year]
Home for Christmas, [Year]
Our tree, our people, [Year]
The year we became five

Not sure whether it is “the Joneses” or “the Jones’s”? Our last name pluralizer works out the plural for a family sign or ornament.

For a couple

[Name] and [Name], Christmas [Year]
Our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs.
Still my favorite gift, [Year]
[Number] Christmases together
Engaged, [Month Year]

For newlyweds, our first Christmas married wording checklist covers names and titles in more detail.

For a friend

Friends make the season, [Year]
[Name] and [Name], since [Year]
Same tree, different houses
To many more Decembers

For a teacher

[Teacher Name], [Grade] class of [Year]
Thank you for a wonderful year, from [Child’s Name]
[Teacher Name]’s helpers, [Year]
Room [Number], Christmas [Year]

For a new home

Our first Christmas at [Street Name]
[House Number], [Year]
New keys, first tree, [Year]
The [Family Name]s, home since [Year]

More ideas, including door colors and house photos, are in our guide to new home Christmas ornaments.

For a pet

[Pet Name], [Year]
[Pet Name]’s first Christmas home
Good boy, [Year] or Good girl, [Year]
Head of tree security

Faith wording (optional)

Joy to the world, [Year]
O come, let us adore Him
Blessed Christmas, the [Family Name]s

For someone you are remembering

A memorial ornament needs gentler wording. See our memorial ornament wording ideas for names, dates and short lines for a loved one or a pet.

What kind of pen do you use to write on ornaments?

For most ornaments, use a paint marker. Paint markers leave an opaque layer that shows up on clear glass, dark wood and glossy ceramic, where an ordinary felt-tip can look faint or streaky. A fine tip is easier to control for names. Gold, silver and white show well on dark or clear ornaments. Black suits light wood and white ceramic.

Water-based paint markers such as POSCA are easy to use and easy to correct, but on smooth surfaces they need sealing to last. The maker’s own advice for each surface, summarized below, comes from POSCA’s materials pages.

How to write on glass ornaments

Clean the glass and make sure it is dry and not greasy. On glass, POSCA paint can be washed off with water, so mistakes wipe away with a damp cloth. To make the writing permanent, POSCA recommends two coats of water-based spray varnish once the paint is dry.

How to write on ceramic ornaments

Most ceramic ornaments are glazed, and POSCA says designs on treated ceramic such as glazed porcelain will be temporary unless fixed, and will take longer to dry. Let it dry fully, then seal it with water-based spray varnish. Unglazed fired clay absorbs paint and holds it on its own.

How to write on acrylic ornaments

Acrylic is a plastic, so wipe off dust and fingerprints first. POSCA’s advice for plastic is two coats of water-based spray varnish once the writing is dry. Many acrylic ornaments come with a protective film on each side: peel it off before you write.

How to write on wood ornaments

Raw wood takes paint marker well. If the wood is varnished, POSCA suggests roughening it lightly with sandpaper first, then sealing the finished writing with two coats of water-based spray varnish. Write along the grain where you can, because the tip can catch across it.

How to write on fabric ornaments

Slip paper behind the fabric so the paint does not soak through. Once dry, POSCA says you can fix the design by ironing it from the reverse side without steam, or with a hair dryer if the fabric cannot be ironed. Do not iron a fabric ornament that has glue, plastic or glitter on it.

How to write a name on an ornament neatly

Prepare the marker. Shake it with the cap on and press the tip on scrap paper until the paint flows, as the POSCA user guide describes.
Practice on paper first. Write the name at the size you plan to use.
Mark the center. Count the letters and start the middle letter at the center, working outward, so the name does not run off one side.
Steady your hand. Rest your wrist on the table and turn the ornament, not your hand. A round ornament sits still in a small cup or a roll of tape.
Go over it once, not many times. Let the first coat dry before adding a second, or it will smear.
Let it dry fully before sealing or hanging.

Quick answers

What do you write on ornaments with? A fine paint marker suits glass, ceramic, acrylic and wood.
Can you use a Sharpie on acrylic ornaments? A permanent marker will mark acrylic, but on any glossy surface test it on the back first and seal it if it rubs off.
How do I fix a mistake on glass? With a water-based paint marker, wipe it with a damp cloth before sealing.
Should I write the year? Yes, if you can. In ten years the date is often the part people are glad to have.

From the shop

If you would rather not write it by hand, the round family name glass ornament is printed with a family name, names and year, the star-shaped ceramic name ornament carries one name and the year, and the Christmas bell ornament has a name and year in a choice of fonts.