What you get
One page with the name repeated on handwriting lines: a top line, a dashed middle line and a baseline. The first copy is solid, as an example. The rest are dotted to trace, and the last row is blank for writing the name alone.
- Large: capitals 1 inch tall, 4 rows on a page.
- Medium: capitals about 2/3 inch tall, 6 rows on US Letter and 7 on A4.
- Small: capitals about 4/9 inch tall, 10 rows on a page.
A long name is made smaller if it would not fit on one line at the size you picked. You then get more rows, and the tool tells you when this happens. Each name uses capital first or all lowercase, whichever you choose. Capital first keeps mixed spelling as you typed it, such as McKenzie.
It suits children around ages 3 to 6 who are starting to write their name, with a grown-up nearby. Children get there at different times, so this is simply practice. It is not a program and we make no promises about results. Crayons work as well as pencils.
How to use it
- Type the name. Type one name, up to 20 characters, in the box. The preview updates as you type.
- Choose the options. Pick large, medium or small letters, capital first or all lowercase, and US Letter or A4 paper.
- Download the page. Choose Download PDF or Download PNG. The file is made in your browser and saved to your device.
- Print at Actual size. Print the file at Actual size or 100%, with any Fit to page option turned off.
Printing tips
- Scale: choose Actual size or 100%. Fit to page shrinks the letters a little. The letters and lines stay at least half an inch from the edge of the paper, and only the small credit line sits a little lower.
- Paper: choose US Letter in the US and Canada, and A4 in most other countries. The size you pick is built into the file.
- PDF or PNG: the PDF is the easier one to print at the right size, and its lines stay sharp at any size. The PNG is 300 DPI, which is handy for a tablet or for adding to a document.
- Black and white: this works fine. The green dots print as dark gray, so point them out once.
- Credit: Each page has a small “tinymapleco.com” credit line at the bottom. There is no watermark across the letters.
For teachers
Class mode makes one PDF with one page per name, for up to 30 names. Open “Make a page for each child” under the preview, then paste your list with one name per line, or with commas between names. Every page uses the size, letter case and paper you picked above.
The list stays in your browser, and the class file name has no names in it. If a name has a character the tool can’t draw, or the list has more than 30 names, you get a message and no PDF is made, so nobody gets skipped by accident. A list with two children named Emma makes two pages.
These pages are free to use at home and in your own classroom.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free, and do I need to sign up?
Yes, it is free, and there is nothing to sign up for. There is no account, no email and no payment. Type a name and download the page.
Do you keep the names I type?
We don’t save or receive the names you type. Page analytics count visits and downloads. The page is made in your browser. The downloaded file name includes the name, for example name-tracing-mia-us-letter.pdf, so it can show up in your downloads list. Class PDFs have a general file name with no names in it.
Which characters can I use?
You can use letters A to Z, many accented letters such as é, ñ, ü and ğ, hyphens, apostrophes, periods and spaces, up to 20 characters. Other characters, including other alphabets such as Cyrillic or Chinese, show a message telling you which character is the problem, and no file is made.
Does it match the handwriting style my school teaches?
It may not match exactly. The letters are a simple ball-and-stick print with a one-story a and g, the same style as our ABC workbook. A green dot marks where each letter’s first stroke starts, on the first copy in each row. There are no numbered arrows, and schools teach some strokes in a different order, so follow your school’s way if it differs.
What is the small line at the bottom of the page?
It is a small credit that says tinymapleco.com. It sits at the bottom of every page and can’t be turned off. There is no watermark across the letters.
More free printables
The free ABC tracing workbook uses the same letter style for all 26 letters, and it is a good next step once a child is tracing their name. You can also make a free letter from Santa with a child’s name. See everything in free printables.