Simple name labels without designs: stylish and clear
Simple name labels are labels without a motif: just the name, in a clear style and colour, preferably with the surname or phone number on a second line. They are best suited when the child can already read their name, when several siblings are going to share a set and when adults label their own clothes. At Lappu, you choose a design without a motif in the designer, and the labels are attached to the care label without an iron.
Here you will find a rule of thumb for when a label without a motif is enough and when it is not, what to put on it, how to make it easy to read and where to place it so it lasts.
With or without a motif? How to choose
A motif does one thing better than text: it helps a child who cannot read find their own jacket. Once that need is gone, a simple label does the same job, and looks more understated on the garment. The table shows what we recommend in different situations.
| Situation | Our advice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool children who cannot read yet | Motif | The child recognises their picture before they recognise their name. |
| Schoolchildren who can read | Simple label or motif, let the child choose | The name is enough to find the right one. A child who has chosen their design will leave the label in place. |
| Middle school and up | Simple label | Older children often want something more discreet than animals and rainbows. A label the child likes will stay in place. |
| Siblings sharing a set | Simple label with surname | The same label suits all children and stays with them as clothes are handed down. |
| Adults, work and the gym | Simple label | Looks like a regular label in a blazer or tracksuit jacket. |
| Care home | Simple label with full name | Staff need to be able to read the name quickly. Also see the 60°C limit further down. |
Would you rather have a motif? Read more about name labels with motifs, where the child can choose their own image.
How to make a clear name label without a motif
When the image is gone, the text has to do all the work. Three choices determine whether the label can be read in a dark cloakroom or a full laundry basket:
- Contrast. Dark text on a light background, or white text on a dark background. Avoid placing two pastel colours against each other.
- Font. Choose a clean, simple style without flourishes. Cursive looks nice in the designer but is difficult to read from a few metres away.
- Keep the text short. The more characters, the smaller the letters. A first name on the first line and a short second line are almost always enough.
In the designer, you can see the result immediately as you change the color and font. Look at the mobile preview from arm's length. If you can read the name there, you can read it on the laundry label.
The simplest option, of course, is to write the name with a fabric pen. It's free, but the ink fades in the wash and the letters run together on a small care label. A printed label without a motif has the same simple look and remains readable.
What should you put on a simple name label?
All labels in a set have the same text, so decide what the set will be used for before you order.
- First name is enough for a child in a group where no one else has the same name.
- First name and surname when there are two Elsas in the group, or when siblings will share the set.
- First name and initial, for example Elsa B, are a short middle ground that distinguishes two children.
- Telephone number on the second line on things that leave the house: the water bottle, backpack, gym bag. Whoever finds the item can call you.
Never write an address or national identification number on a name label. Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and national identification numbers are all considered personal data under the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection, so only include what is needed for the item to find its way home.
When all the labels look alike
One risk with simple labels is that they look alike. If half the class has a white label with black text, the name is the only distinguishing feature, and two Leos are easily mixed up. The solution is simple: add a surname or initial, and choose a background color that becomes your family's color. Then you can tell from a distance that the hat in the lost-and-found box is yours, before you have even read the name.
Keep the washing symbols visible
Place the label on the free section of the care label, not over the washing symbols. That way, whoever washes the garment can still see whether it can be washed at 40 or 60 degrees and whether it can go in the tumble dryer. This is especially important when the garment is passed on or washed by someone else, for example at a care home.
Is the care label small or full of text? Choose the longest label that fits, or a section of the label that only lists the material. Find more information about placement in the guide where to place the name label on the care label.
How to attach a simple name label
The labels attach to fabric via the care label, and directly to plastic, metal, glass, and leather. Here's how:
- Wipe the surface. The care label or bottle should be clean and dry.
- Peel off the label. Touch the sticky side as little as possible.
- Press firmly for approximately 10 seconds. Pay particular attention to the corners.
- Wait one day. The adhesive needs approximately 24 hours, so do not wash the garment before then.
What a simple name label can withstand
A label without a design is just as durable as one with a design. The labels withstand washing machines up to 60°C, tumble dryers, and dishwashers up to 60°C. That is why the same simple set works on clothes, shoes, water bottles, and lunch boxes. Read more about what name labels can withstand in the wash.
Lappu has not published any laboratory test and has no environmental or chemical certification, so we make no such claims. What we promise is the specification above and our customer satisfaction guarantee: a new label or your money back within 60 days of delivery.
When a simple sticker is not enough: If clothes are washed at 90 to 95 degrees, as in some care homes and with workwear, an iron-on label is a better choice. The same applies to garments without a care label, such as hand-knitted items. Adhesive labels do not stick well to socks, silicone, or highly stretchy materials. Lappu only sells adhesive labels, so iron-on name labels are the right option there.
A simple set for the whole family
With the surname on the label instead of the first name, all the children in the family can use the same set. This has two advantages. You order once instead of once per child. And when big sister's rain jacket is passed on to little brother, the right label is already on it.
Illustrative calculation: A set of standard name labels has 124 labels and costs from SEK 139, approximately SEK 1.12 per label. If two siblings share the set, they get 62 labels each to distribute among outerwear, hats, mittens with a care label, shoes, bottles, and lunch boxes. Only order a custom set with first names if the children are in the same group and need to be told apart.
If you want to compare the price per label with other brands, see cheapest name labels.
Simple name labels for adults
For adults, a label without a design is almost always the right choice. It cannot be seen from the outside, looks like an ordinary label, and clearly shows whose blazer it is at work, whose jacket it is in the gym changing room, or whose sweater it is at the care home.
If you are labeling clothes for a parent in a care home, write their full name and check the washing temperature with the care home first. More information is available on the pages about name labels for adults and name labels in care homes.
Three sizes, the same simple style
- Name labels: 124 labels from SEK 139, for clothes, shoes, bottles, and lunch boxes.
- Small name labels: SEK 129, for pens, rulers, pacifiers, AirPods, and small laundry labels.
- Large name labels: 30 labels for SEK 139, for backpacks, bags, water bottles, and sports equipment.
The labels arrive by post within a few business days. Read more about labeling children's clothes on the name labels for clothes page.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the best name labels?
It depends on what you are labeling. Self-adhesive labels are quickest for clothes with a care label and for belongings, while iron-on labels are safer for garments without a care label and for washing above 60 degrees. We compare five common brands in best name labels 2026.
How do you make your own name labels?
The easiest way is to design them online: choose a color and font, enter the name, and see the result immediately before ordering. If you want a completely simple label, choose a design without a motif. Writing with a textile pen also works, but the text fades in the wash.
Where can I get free name labels?
In practice, free means using a textile pen and the care label you already have. It works for a while, but the ink fades. Printed name labels cost money; at Lappu, they cost approximately SEK 1.12 per label in a set of 124 labels.
What should you write on name labels?
A first name is often enough. Add a surname or initial if multiple children have the same name or if siblings will share the set, and a phone number on items that leave the house. Never write an address or national identification number.
Where can I find small name labels?
Lappu has small name labels for pens, pacifiers, AirPods, and small laundry labels. They can be made just as simple as the regular ones, with only the name.
How do you sew on name labels?
A woven name label is sewn on with a few stitches at each short end. Lappu's labels are self-adhesive and don't need to be sewn: they are pressed onto the care label. If the garment has no care label, an iron-on or sewn label is a safer choice.