Our Favorite Personalized Gifts For Every Budget

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Add your loved one’s name, initials, or a thoughtful message to these gifts.

In This Article

Southern Living / Alli Waataja

Regardless of who you’re shopping for, there are certain qualities a good gift should always have. You should think about the person’s interests, as well as the gift’s sentimentality and its practicality. But one gift type really takes the cake when it comes to meaning and uniqueness: personalized gifts.

“I think the most thoughtful gifts are ones that perfectly speak to the giftee, which is why I think a personalized gift is always a great, meaningful option,” says Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson.

Dayna Isom Johnson is Etsy’s in-house trend expert.

You can personalize a gift in many ways, whether that’s adding their initials or name, customizing based on their favorite things, or just adding a meaningful card. No matter the occassion, we found the best personalized gifts for moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and more.

If your friend always has a cup of coffee or tea with them, we highly recommend buying this cute monogrammed mug. Each mug features an initial in black with a gold border around the letter for an extra special touch.

There are also different black and gold designs around the mug, all inspired by French bistro tiles, so you can be sure they won’t have anything else like this in their cabinet.

Pairs Well With: Simply Crafty Customs Personalized Coaster

If you know someone who never leaves home without their water bottle, then this personalized one is a perfect birthday or holiday gift. You can customize this tumbler with the recipient’s name, and you even have the option to pick out different fonts.

You can purchase the tumbler in nine colors and four sizes, including unique options like rose gold and teal. This tumbler also has a double-wall feature, so it keeps cold drinks cool and hot drinks warm for longer.

Whether the recipient is a foodie, an experienced chef, or someone who just loves personalized home tools, this is a great gift for them. This wooden cutting board can be designed by adding an initial, a last name, or a family name. Because it’s so beautiful, they can use it to chop up ingredients, serve food, or as a decorative piece in their kitchen.

If you’re looking for a unique and funny gift, these socks will be a wonderful surprise. You can upload a picture of the recipient’s face to the socks and select a certain design, like “I Love Dad”. You can also upload a photo of a pet instead for the proud pet parent.

This neon sign is a wonderful gift for any teenager or college student. You can choose from 12 colors and 30 fonts to make it truly customized to the recipient’s tastes, and you can design it with up to 48 letters.

You can even add a backplate shape and a symbol to go after the name (like a heart or star). It’s the perfect thing to put above a bed or elsewhere in a bedroom.

Pairs Well With: Baublebar Custom Phone Case

Candles are always a wonderful gift to receive. This customized candle gift allows you to build a candle for your loved one based on their tastes. You can select the fragrance (there are 19 to choose from), and complete it with a message on the front. Once the recipient has burned through the candle, they can use it to hold knickknacks.

Napkin rings are a great way to elevate your lunch or dinner spread. If you have a friend who’s always hosting gatherings, be sure to gift them with this pick. Not only do you have the option to order the rings with a certain letter, but each one comes with a crystal at the end.Pairs Well With: Pottery Barn Harrison Round Serving Tray

This canister contains a variety of heart-shaped messages that will instantly uplift your friend’s mood. Whether your friend lives in a different state or the same neighborhood as you, these sweet messages will remind them of how much you care. You can customize the lid’s text so the giftee knows it’s just for them.

If you’re shopping for a couple that’s about to get married, then these coasters are a perfect gift. You can customize the coaster with one of 18 design options, ranging from modern to more traditional.

Each choice features the couple’s initials or names, and a few also include an anniversary date. You can choose the number of coasters you want to include in the gift, from one to eight pieces, as well as the shape.

This colorful personalized blanket can be purchased for a baby, child, or adult, depending on the size. You can pick out the font (either block or script) and blanket color—there are nine earthy tones to choose from. No matter who you buy it for, it’s a super soft blanket that will be loved for years.

Pairs Well With: Custom Faces Print Crew Socks

This zippered pouch is a wonderful gift for your mom, aunt, sister, or daughter. It’s big enough for their phone, keys, and lipstick, and is made of super soft Italian leather.

You can choose the color and monogram technique (foil debossed or printed), but note that the personalization feature does cost an extra fee. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can purchase a few small goodies to place in the purse.

Help them go to the beach in style by gifting them this beach bag. Marley Lilly has created a stylish but roomy bag to store some of their essential beach snacks. Available in four different styles, they will always grab this bag before heading off to the beach.

This adorable bracelet can be customized by selecting the pattern, letters, size, beads, and color of the letters. There are a variety of options to choose from, including rainbow, crystal, and gold-plated designs. It’s an especially great gift for teens who want an upgrade to their friendship bracelet collection.

Celebrating an extra special occasion? Consider the Everyday Photo Book from Artifact Uprising, a premium photo book that includes a linen cover, custom foil stamping, and thick pages that lie flat when open. There are nine fabric colors and three foil colors to choose from, and you can also decide whether you want 30, 40, or 50 pages to be included.

This breezy robe from a Southern brand is the perfect addition to their self-care routine. It’s knee-length with short sleeves and no collar, so it’s perfect for year-round use to wear when getting ready. Each robe is white with your choice of colorful piping, and comes in six sizes. If you do personalize it, just note that it’ll be an extra fee.

Pairs Well With: Williams Sonoma Soap & Towel Gift Set

If your mom or dad is always sharing recipes with your relatives or family friends, gift them with these personalized recipe cards. Each card comes with a strawberry illustration in the right upper corner. There are also spaces on the card to add prep time, cooking time, the recipe, and the amount it serves.Pairs Well With: Etsy Personalized Wooden Cutting Board

This gorgeous name necklace is a great way to show that special person in your life just how much you care. There are a variety of different materials you can choose from, ranging from sterling silver and gold vermeil to solid gold and white gold. You can even add on a diamond for an extra special touch. The necklace can be personalized up to nine letters, and there are also three lengths.

Pairs Well With: Little Words Custom Bracelet

You can personalize this notebook with the recipient’s name, as well as by selecting a certain color and type of paper (lined, dotted, or plain). It’s perfect for a college student or someone who loves to journal. If you don’t love this style, there are plenty of others to choose from on Papier’s site—and you can add Papier’s book gift box for super easy wrapping.

Oak & Eden has the perfect gift for whiskey lovers: a create-your-own whiskey. You start by selecting a base whiskey (there are four to choose from) and either the American or French oak spire. Then, you can choose from a variety of infusions to make it catered exactly to the recipient’s tastes. Options include honey, coffee, maple syrup, and orange, but there are 12 total. Finally, you can add the giftee’s name to the bottle so they know it’s made just for them.

Pairs Well With: Engraved Bamboo Whiskey Stone Set

This custom iPhone case is the best way to make their phone stand out. You can add the recipient’s name to the case and select a certain color (there are 12 options). Aside from letters, you can also use a few symbols. Take note that this case is only for iPhones, and BaubleBar doesn’t yet have an option for Androids.

Pairs Well With: IbayNawi Custom Neon Sign

Give this mug to all the cat moms in your life. You can personalize it so that the recipient’s character is featured sitting next to up to two cats, making this extra special. It’s available in 15 colors, and comes with a cute design on the front that says “Cat Mom” with a subtle cat graphic.

If you have a child involved in sports, or want to celebrate a beloved coach, then this photo book is the perfect gift for them. You can upload photos of the team’s season and personalize everything from the design, size, cover type, and page type. The book has 20 pages total, but you can add on more for an extra fee.

This gift is perfect for someone who has a particularly beloved handwritten family recipe. Just upload a photo of the recipe and Minted will turn it into an art print. It comes either framed or unframed, and you can choose the font color and the frame color. The recipient can hang the recipe art near their dining room or in the kitchen.

This is a great gift for anyone in your life who’s passionate about astrology and numerology. Each candle is made for a specific birthday, and features the day’s ruling number, ruling planet, personality, and 2024 horoscope. Each one also has its own special scent based on the day’s personality. Whether you gift it for a birthday or holiday, it’ll be much appreciated.

The key to winning any pickleball game is using a personalized paddle…at least that’s what we’d argue. Whether you buy this paddle for yourself or give it to a competitive friend or family member—this paddle is a great way to elevate the game. You can opt for a one- or two-sided personalization, and you can also choose the colors for the name.

Whether your mom likes to write letters, notes, or helpful reminders for herself, this personal stationery gift set from Southern brand Dogwood Hill is a great option. It comes with 25 notecards, 25 calling cards, and a 75-sheet notepad, all of which are personalized with the recipient's name. If you don’t like the green color, there are three others to choose from: lime and orange, hot pink and orange, and gold and charcoal.

It’s easy to do a traditional monogram, but things get a little tricky for those who have multiple middle names, double last names, last names with a hyphen, or even couple monograms. Before you start stressing out, check out some of our tips.

This is not just any picture frame—instead, it’s WiFi-enabled, so you can upload as many photos as you want. It’s easy to set up, and multiple people can upload photos so there’s a constantly changing carousel. This is a great gift for grandparents who want the latest photos of their kids and grandkids all in one place.

If your friend just got a dog, then this actually good-looking dog bowl is a great gift for their pet. You can add the dog’s name to the front of the bowl, and choose from two sizes and two colors (navy and white). Personalization is extra, but we think it’s worth it for the quality and aesthetic appeal.

If you know someone who likes to crochet, then this personalized yarn bowl will help them keep track of their yarn. It’s made of durable ceramic, and depending on where you order from, you can select a certain bowl color. Since it’s a handmade product, each one is unique and looks slightly different.

While adding ice to whiskey helps it to stay fresh, it can also water down your drink. Meet the Engraved Bamboo Whiskey Stones—a way to keep drinks cool without compromising on flavor. This is a great gift for anyone who likes to host family get-togethers. Before ordering, add the recipient’s initials or another personal design. Note that nine stone cubes come with the set.Pairs Well With: Oak & Eden Custom Whiskey Bottle

Handwritten letters are always cherished, so why not memorialize them on a cozy throw blanket? Available in three sizes, this blanket is customized with your own message of love for the recipient. You can choose either a cursive or non-cursive font. They’ll think of you every time they use it to stay warm and cozy while watching a movie or reading a book.

A tote bag is an essential for toting car keys, electronic devices, mints, tissues, and other everyday needs. The Cuyana Classic Easy Tote can be monogrammed with either three large letters or eight mini letters, so you can customize it with their initials or their first name. Whether the recipient has an office job, needs a new tote bag, or is a busy parent, this tote bag is large enough to store their go-to items.

This polo dress is the perfect outfit to wear for outdoor activities like golfing. There are a total of 20 monogram styles to choose from, or you can choose a special logo instead. In addition, you can add a name or number to the back.

If you’re shopping for a hostess, then Pottery Barn’s Harrison Round Serving Tray will come in handy at their events. It’s made of steel and is large enough to hold a collection of glasses or bar supplies, and you can personalize it by adding the recipient’s name or a monogram for an extra fee.

This gift set features three monogrammed soaps, 12 disposable monogrammed guest towels, and a monogrammed robe, making it an ideal housewarming gift. Everything is packaged in a nice gift box so it’s ready to be wrapped and gifted, making your job much easier.

These slippers are designed with bachelorettes and bridesmaids in mind, but you can easily gift them for any occasion. You can customize the slippers by selecting a certain color and size, and you can add the recipient’s name (up to 12 letters). Fluffy and cute, these slippers are a unique alternative to typical wintery slippers.

Pairs Well With: Caden Lane Earthy Tones Personalized Blanket

If you notice that your brother has a hard time keeping track of keys and wallet, this wooden docking station might help him stay organized. This stand has spots for all his essentials, including his phone, wallet, watch, keys, and more. You can personalize it with his name for a special touch.

If they collect wind chimes or sculptures, we recommend that you give them this personalized wind sculpture. This is an excellent gift for grandparents because you can add each of the grandchildren’s names to the sculpture. It’s made with steel so it’s super durable, and the handmade construction means you won’t be able to find something like it elsewhere.

This simple yet stylish bracelet pairs well with any outfit. You can add their name or a personalized word or phrase on the bracelet, and you can choose from four metal finishes (all the bracelets are made of stainless steel). It’s a great minimalist gift that’s unique and very thoughtful.

Leatherology’s Modern Unlined Valet Tray will help the giftee keep track of their office items, from paper clips to push pins and even car keys. There are six colors to choose from, but all are made from Italian leather.

You can add a name or initials up to four characters for an extra fee—but note that personalization can only be done on Leatherology’s site, not Amazon.

This stud earring is an excellent stocking stuffer. Made of 14k yellow, white, or rose gold, it can be worn with any outfit, whether it’s a casual or formal occasion. Just note that the stud is sold individually and not as a pair, so it’s best for an extra piercing—unless you want to buy another one to complete the set.

Pairs Well With: Oak & Luna Mon Petit Name Necklace

Whether you know a photographer or have a friend who likes to take pictures, the Mini Softcover Photo Book will be a nice gift for a birthday or holiday. You can fill it with photos from a special vacation or event, or just include family photos or snapshots of the two of you. Since the book comes with 20-40 pages, you can fill the book with as many photos as you want.

Birch trees can be found all across the South, and if this just so happens to be your grandma’s favorite tree, we recommend gifting her with this personalized notepad. Whether she likes to write thank you notes or simply needs a way to keep track of her reminders, this notepad is perfect either way. You can opt for 100 sheets or 50, and add a gift message.

This personalized cigar case is technically meant to be a groomsman gift, but there’s no reason why you can’t buy it for a different occasion. You have the freedom to pick a certain color and design for the cigar case, with a variety of engraving styles and locations.

How’s this for a unique gift: This decorative monogram letter includes a winter wonderland scene complete with fairy lights, making it a truly special piece of holiday decor. You can even buy a few to spell out a last name or festive word, like “noel” or “peace”.

There's nothing sweeter than receiving cookies as a gift—but what about elevating the presentation with a box of custom cookies instead? These vanilla shortbread cookies can be customized with the message of your choosing, with three lines on each cookie and a maximum of 12 characters on each line. Each box comes with 16 cookies, and you can do either undecorated cookies or cookies decorated with hearts.

According to Johnson, you can give someone a personalized gift for any occasion. “If you’re not sure where to start, consider unique and well-crafted items that match back to their interests and hobbies,” she says. “I always like to see if there is a way I can make the personalization even more meaningful.”

From cups to household items and notebooks, you can get pretty much any item personalized. A baby's baptism gift is one that almost requires some form of personalization. Examples also include “necklaces and mugs to beach towels to commemorate your girl's trip or even engraved whiskey barrels for your friend who has taken up brewing at home,” says Johnson.

For something more subtle, many websites allow you to add a monogram before ordering products. As the saying goes, too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing (and yes this rule also applies to personalization). If you’re wondering about items to not personalize, check out our list.

Etsy has a massive selection of personalized gifts, but it isn’t the only site. You can also search Shutterfly, Zazzle, Amazon Handmade, Uncommon Goods, and more.

If you’re willing to splurge, sites like Mark & Graham and Anthropologie offer tons of unique specialty gifts. You can even personalize clothing from places like Ralph Lauren and Marleylilly and Caden Lane.

If you’re wanting to give a personalized piece of jewelry to a loved one, we recommend checking out Oak & Luna, Little Words Project, or Le Mel. For stylish personalized stationery sets, it’s best to go with Papier, Dogwood Hill, or Blú Rose Paper Goods & Gifts.

This article was written by Moriah Mason, a commerce writer for Southern Living. To find the best personalized gifts, she searched different retailers and evaluated a range of gifts based on quality, uniqueness, and range of customization options. She also spoke to Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson for important tips tips on shopping for personalized gifts.