We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Holidays & Occasions Gifts The 43 Best Personalized Gifts Of 2024 Add your loved one’s name, initials, or a thoughtful message to these gifts. By Moriah Mason Moriah Mason Moriah is a commerce writer for Southern Living who specializes in reviewing cookware, kitchen gadgets, home decor, and more. Her work has appeared in Allrecipes, Alabama Political Reporter, and The Samford Crimson. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 16, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Reviews FAQs Why Trust Southern Living Southern Living / Alli Waataja Regardless of who you’re shopping for, there are certain qualities a good gift should 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. 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. Whether you’re shopping for Valentine's Day or another special occasion, we found the best personalized gifts for significant others, moms, best friends, and more. DeLight Patisserie Custom Message Shortbread Cookies Uncommon Goods View On Anthropologie $42 View On Uncommon Goods $40 View On Delightpatisserie.com 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. Birthdate Co. Anniversary Candle Birthdate Co. View On Amazon $70 View On Birthdate.co Whether you're shopping for a couple that just got married or you want to surprise your candle-loving partner with a particularly thoughtful gift, this option is sure to be a hit. There is a specific candle for each day of the year, making each option totally unique and special. In addition to displaying the anniversary date and the names of the couple, each candle has an explainer on the astrological significance of the date, including the ruling planet, ruling number, and tarot card. Anthropologie Tiled Margot Monogram Mug Anthropologie View On Anthropologie $14 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. Oakdene Designs Personalised Couples Large Matchbox Etsy View On Etsy $36 This vintage-inspired matchbox is a great gift idea for couples or your own significant other. It's made from solid wood and features a personalized design, including the couples' initials and a special date. Other features include a sliding lid and honeycomb match strike paper, making this both a functional and style gift idea. Whether they have a fireplace or just love lighting candles, they're sure to get a lot of use out of this thoughtful gift. Uncommon Goods Personalized Crossword Print Uncommon Goods View On Uncommon Goods $50 This personalized gift is a crossword puzzle lover's dream. You get to customize the name of the puzzle and provide six original clues—Uncommon Goods will take care of the rest. It comes with two copies of the puzzle and an answer key, so they can solve the puzzle on one sheet and then write the correct answers on the other sheet to save and display. Add a magnetic frame and they'll not only have a fun game to solve, but also a new decor piece. Urban Engravings Personalized Walnut Cutting Board Etsy View On Etsy $49 View On Urban-engravings.com 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. InterestPrint Custom Crew Socks Amazon View On Amazon $13 View On Interestprint.com 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. IbayNawi Custom Neon Sign Amazon View On Amazon $27 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. Uncommon Goods A Dozen Reasons You're My Friend Uncommon Goods View On Uncommon Goods $45 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. Caden Lane Earthy Tones Personalized Color Blanket Caden Lane View On Cadenlane.com 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. Mark & Graham Leather Mini Zipper Pouch Mark & Graham View On Markandgraham.com $49 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. Little Words Project Custom Bracelet Little Words Project View On Littlewordsproject.com 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. Artifact Uprising Everyday Photo Book Artifact Uprising View On Artifactuprising.com $40 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. Unplug Soy Candles Customize Your Candle Unplug Soy Candles View On Unplugsoycandles.com 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. Weezie Short Signature Robe Weezie View On Weezietowels.com 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. Oak and Luna Mon Petit Name Necklace 14k Solid Gold Oak & Luna View On Oakandluna.com 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. Papier Colorblock Notebook Papier View On Papier.com $28 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 Custom Whiskey Bottle Oak & Eden View On Oakandeden.com 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. BaubleBar Custom Phone Case Baublebar View On Baublebar.com $72 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. Minted Your Recipe as a Custom Art Print Minted View On Minted This particular 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. Dogwood Hill Bamboo Stationery Gift Set Dogwood Hill View On Dogwood-hill.com 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. BK Gift Personalized Whiskey Dispenser Etsy View On Etsy $99 If your dad is a fan of whiskey, then this personalized whiskey dispenser makes the perfect birthday or Christmas gift. You can customize it with the recipient’s name and the year, making it a special addition to any home bar. Aura Carver Digital Picture Frame Amazon View On Amazon $149 View On Nordstrom $150 View On Target $150 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. Mark & Graham Dipped Ceramic Dog Bowl Mark & Graham View On Markandgraham.com $39 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. The Mud Place Personalized Yarn Bowl Uncommon Goods View On Amazon $60 View On Etsy $60 View On Uncommon Goods $60 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. Meghan Zeruk Personalized Hand-Written Letter Blanket Meghan Zeruk View On Uncommon Goods $155 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. Cuyana Classic Easy Tote Cuyana View On Cuyana.com $268 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. Olive & Cocoa Monogrammed Wine Stopper Olive & Cocoa View On Oliveandcocoa.com While a wine stopper doesn’t sound very exciting, you can spice things up by getting the recipient a monogrammed one. This regal-looking wine stopper is emblazoned with one letter, so you can choose the recipient’s first name or last name initial. It comes in a beautiful wooden crate with ribbon, making it an extra special gift for the wine lover in your life. Ralph Lauren Women’s Polo Dress Ralph Lauren View On Ralphlauren.com This polo dress is the perfect outfit to wear for outdoor activities like golfing. You have many personalization features to consider, from the dress color and size to the monogramming. 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. Pottery Barn Harrison Round Serving Tray Pottery Barn View On Pottery Barn $89 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. Williams Sonoma Home Monogrammed Soap & Towel Gift Set Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma $59 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. Lace & Ruffles Fluffy Slippers Amazon View On Amazon $20 View On Etsy $13 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. Gretaoto Personalized Docking Station Amazon View On Amazon $30 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. Crooks Design Stars Align Personalized Wind Sculpture Uncommon Goods View On Uncommon Goods $150 If your grandma likes to 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. Shutterfly Go Sports! by Lure Design Photo Book Shutterfly View On Shutterfly.com 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. Brielle Belle Customized Cuff Bracelet Etsy View On Etsy $34 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. Second Chance Initiative Cat Mom Mug Etsy View On Etsy $12 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. Minted Golden Mom Custom Art Minted View On Minted This custom art piece is a thoughtful gift for your mom. It features large block letters that spell out “mom,” and inside each letter you can upload photos of the recipient’s children. It’s complete with the children’s names. While you do have the freedom to select a certain size, frame color, and frame material, there is only one color theme. Leatherology Modern Unlined Valet Tray Leatherology View On Amazon $75 View On Leatherology.com 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. Amazing Items Personalized Water Bottle Amazon View On Amazon $37 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. Le Mel Initial Stud Earring Le Mel View On Shoplemel.com 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. Printique Mini Softcover Photo Book Printique View On Printique.com 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. Flowertown Weddings Personalized Cigar Case Etsy View On Etsy $30 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. Questions and Answers When is the best time to give a personalized gift? 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.” What things can you get personalized? 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. Another way to personalize your gifts is to use a Cricut machine—a popular tool for DIY enthusiasts. What websites are best for getting personalized gifts? 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. Why Trust Southern Living 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 regarding personalized gifts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit