Signature ideas: 8 styles to try for your name

Cursive, professional, initials, minimalist, calligraphy, logo, autograph and pinyin — what each style looks like and who it suits.

If you are searching for signature ideas, start with the style rather than the letters. Each style below has its own page with examples.

Cursive

Connected letters and a gentle slant. The classic handwritten look, good for everyday signing.

Strong capitals, controlled speed and often an underline. Built for contracts and forms.

Two oversized, interlinked initials carry the signature. Fast and very recognisable.

One line weight, airy spacing, no flourishes. Modern and calm on paper and screen.

Thick-and-thin strokes and swashes from pointed-pen scripts. Elegant for invitations and art.

A signature redrawn as a vector brand mark — popular with photographers and small brands.

A bold performance signature for books, prints and fan cards, written in seconds.

Latin-letter signatures for Chinese names, including pinyin full names and English-first-name combinations.