# What do you think of your initials/monogram? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 6, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110 "2023-06-06T16:23:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/21 "2023-06-07T16:49:46Z")
If I only use my first and last names, I have a common two letter abbreviation. However I have a capital letter in the middle of my first name, like the A in MaryAnn. In Switzerland, this second capital letter ends up in the official abbreviation for my name, when writing minutes. So, if I would be normally MP, in the minutes I would be referred to as MAP. I do have two middle names, but I still don’t get a nice word. Oddly enough, if I search my standard 4 letter initial, I find a number of abbreviations. Sometimes I think there aren’t enough letters in the alphabet. I do know a person whose first name is Patricia and her initials are PAT. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/22 "2023-06-07T17:05:38Z")
I knew someone named Kasey. Her name was Kasey Christine?? She styled herself K.C. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/23 "2023-06-07T18:26:21Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > She does NOT sign emails “RPH, RPh.” But she totally should. That’d be cool. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/24 "2023-06-07T18:46:11Z")
My Js always look like 3s, so my initials look like P3D. My brother was MAD ! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/25 "2023-06-07T20:39:49Z")
Similar to the singer, KT Tunstall. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/26 "2023-06-07T21:00:43Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > WTF would be awesome. _SMH_ ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/27 "2023-06-07T21:04:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’ve never owned, nor wanted, anything monogrammed. Seems an archaic and egomaniacal thing to do. The Great Gatsby had monogrammed stuff. I’m not he, neither would or should anyone be impressed by me trying to ape such nonsense from a century’s distance. I don’t feel as strongly as you about this, but recently sat on the plane next to a very nervous guy obviously on his way to a very important business meeting. Everything about him screamed “trying too hard to impress,” down to the monogrammed cuffs on a cheap shirt. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/28 "2023-06-07T21:19:43Z")
My initials are MS, so if I ever end up releasing software out to the public, I can’t use my initials because some bozos out in Washington State already use those letters. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/29 "2023-06-07T22:36:46Z")
The sheer effrontery of it all! And that’s not even _their_ founder’s initials. How dare they take up two different sets of perfectly good initials? I smell an attempted monopoly. Tain’t fair! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/30 "2023-06-07T23:13:13Z")
You try to be Frank Ulysses Krause. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/31 "2023-06-07T23:15:20Z")
The second. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/32 "2023-06-07T23:55:47Z")
My aunt wanted to name one of their sons something that would have given him the initials TNT and another family opped out of giving their daughter ASS. I’m sure she could have handled it as an adult, but having been teased a lot about my last name in school, giving potential schoolyard bullies one less weapon isn’t a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/33 "2023-06-08T00:00:07Z")
My initials couldn’t be any better, they absolutely fit who I am. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/34 "2023-06-08T03:01:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Other monograms are done more like FLM with the last name in the center, larger, and sometimes in a fancier font. > > My FML format is OK not great. My FLM format is not harmonious. I never ‘got’ FLM - rearrange the letters & put the one now in the middle bigger than the other two. If anything, FM,L in bowtie fashion is the way I think they should be, not diamond shaped. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > RAC. I wonder if there are any ASS’s or TITs. The first holiday meal after sis got engaged had a lively discussion amongst the cousins - should her initials be First, Middle, Married name or First, Maiden name, Married name because of of them spelled ASS but the other way didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/35 "2023-06-08T09:36:42Z")
My name is Howard Lane Lee and my initials are almost HeLL. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/36 "2023-06-08T12:02:54Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I’m sure she could have handled it as an adult, but having been teased a lot about my last name in school, giving potential schoolyard bullies one less weapon isn’t a bad idea. I too suffered as a kid from a very teasable last name. Our parents were smart enough to take that into consideration when giving us first & middle names. Thanks Mom & Dad, ya’ done good there. I don’t think concerns about monograms entered into it though. Which raises an interesting question, since you are fluent in both Japanese and Chinese. Do those languages, or other ones with similar writing styles, have a concept akin to a monogram? Some simplified iconic derivation of a name? Sorta the visual corollary to a nickname? > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > My initials couldn’t be any better, they absolutely fit who I am. Notorious B.I.G. is that you? 🙂 > [@Spiderman](#): > > I never ‘got’ FLM - rearrange the letters & put the one now in the middle bigger than the other two. If anything, FM,L in bowtie fashion is the way I think they should be, not diamond shaped Last in the middle always always struck me odd too. As you suggest, the bowtie de-emphasing middle makes more sense for English-language naming norms and the format also degrades nicely in the absence of a middle name/initial. As to enlarged last in the middle, my thought is that in the 1700-1900s if you are a member of the landed gentry or minor royalty, family pedigree and family name is everything. Ditto in later eras and even today except the “landed gentry” of today are the corporate fatcat class. In those circumstance, your family name is not only what you are called, but it is who you _are_ and is the source of all your wealth, power, and specialness over the proles. From a young age you’ll be told things like “Bobbie, never forget you are a Walton and we Waltons always …” IMO monograms have been a ruling class thing, not a working class thing from way back. And in the ruling class your family, and family connections, and family assets, are _everything_. Hence the larger family initial in the middle. That’s my own personal potted cultural / historical explanation and worth every penny you paid for it. 🙂 Monograms have long since been adopted by (some of) the ordinary schlubs, but IMO they’re either anachronistic like exaggerated Emily Post etiquette-isms or are about like this: > [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > … recently sat on the plane next to a very nervous guy obviously on his way to a very important business meeting. Everything about him screamed “trying too hard to impress,” down to the monogrammed cuffs on a cheap shirt. Wanna show the Jones’s next door or in the next cubical that _you_ have class and style, unlike _them_? Get something monogrammed. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/37 "2023-06-08T14:25:51Z")
Oh, rubbish. A monogram simply demonstrates that one is an impoverished peasant who does not have a coat of arms. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/38 "2023-06-08T18:07:09Z")
Very well said. Bravo good Sir! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/39 "2023-06-09T03:55:48Z")
What irritates one is the pretenders who have a coat of arms yet have barely even a single castle to their name. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110/40 "2023-06-09T07:46:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Which raises an interesting question, since you are fluent in both Japanese and Chinese. Do those languages, or other ones with similar writing styles, have a concept akin to a monogram? Some simplified iconic derivation of a name? Sorta the visual corollary to a nickname? Pretty fluent in Japanese but unfortunately, my Chinese is really bad. That’s one reason to come back here. Yes! They have monograms, such as this beautifully stylized logo of 茶の菓 [![](https://liginc.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/logo2.jpg) ](https://liginc.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/logo2.jpg) The logos often combine pictures with the kanji / characters. [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0048/2315/4734/products/yamasa-soy-sauce-reg-1000ml-349529_828x829.png?v=1608452876) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0048/2315/4734/products/yamasa-soy-sauce-reg-1000ml-349529_828x829.png?v=1608452876) Yamasa is a famous manufacturer of soy sauce It’s a stylized picture of a mountain with katakana _sa_ [![](https://www.marukome.co.jp/global/en/img/logo.png) ](https://www.marukome.co.jp/global/en/img/logo.png) Maru is a circle and kome is rice so the logo is a circle with the kanji for rice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-your-initials-monogram/985110.md?page=3)