Pluralizing Your Last Name for Custom Gifts

How to Correctly Pluralize Your Last Name for Personalized Gifts

We love creating personalized items for our customers, and we know that getting your family name just right is important! One common question we get is how to pluralize last names correctly—especially for those beautiful garden flags, drinkware, or home decor items. It can feel a bit tricky, but don’t worry! We’re here to help make it as simple as possible. 😊

The General Rule for Most Names:

For most last names, making them plural is straightforward: just add an "s" at the end! For example:

• The Martins (Martin + s)
• The Smiths (Smith + s)
• The Garcias (Garcia + s)

When to Add "es":

If your last name ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, you’ll need to add "es" to make it plural. This helps with pronunciation!

• The Joneses (Jones + es)
• The Foxes (Fox + es)
• The Lopezes (Lopez + es)
• The Marches (March + es)
• The Ashes (Ash + es)

What About Names Ending in "y"?

If your last name ends in "y," the good news is that you do not change the "y" to "ies" like you would with some common nouns. Simply add an "s."

• The Murphys (Murphy + s)
• The Kennedys (Kennedy + s)

No Apostrophes, Please!

One of the biggest mistakes people make is adding an apostrophe when pluralizing their last name. Remember, apostrophes are for showing possession, not for making names plural.

• Correct: The Wilsons
• Incorrect: The Wilson’s (This would mean something belongs to the Wilson!)

Special Cases:

Some last names may look or sound unusual when pluralized. If you’re ever unsure, feel free to ask us! But here are a few examples:

• The O’Connors (O’Connor + s)
• The McCarthys (McCarthy + s)
• The Bushes (Bush + es)

Still Not Sure?

We want to make sure your personalized items are perfect. If you’re ever unsure how to pluralize your last name, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re happy to help!

Send us a Chat Message!