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Initials in signature - old fashioned?

90 replies

BigGlasses · 29/03/2020 13:35

My parents, and a lot of their generation (late 60s) use their initials in their signature, for instance Dad’s is WRTSmith and Mum’s is MaryJSmith. However most of my generation (30/40s)such as me and my sister use just our first and last name, eg Emma Smith.

Is this just my family/friends? Not that it matters, i’m Just musing/bored.

( all names have been changed/made up obviously, but the format is what i’m On about)

OP posts:
Sonichu · 29/03/2020 14:01

My dad (65) is the only one in our family with a middle name and I don't think I've ever seen him sign it. I didn't even know he had a middle name until I was in my teens and some mail arrived addressed to him with it on!

DramaAlpaca · 29/03/2020 14:01

I use first name then surname, no initials, mid-50s.

My 80-something dad uses first two initials then surname, and my mother does the same.

CormoranStrike · 29/03/2020 14:02

I am 52 and do initial surname

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 29/03/2020 14:03

I use first initial then surname - although only the first & last letters of my surname are legible I'm 41 - except on my drivers license & passport as I'm stuck with the signature I had at 16/17 which is my full first name & surname written neatly & legibly.

My mum uses her full first & surname she's 63

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 29/03/2020 14:04

I do Gibbons Gibbons but when I worked I had to sign my name constantly for audit trail so used GGGibbons - 40s
My mother uses Gibbons G Gibbons always - 70s

Graphista · 29/03/2020 14:05

I don't think it's a "fashion" thing I think it depends on if you've ever had a job where you're having to sign thousands of times a day as I did at one point!

So I only use first initial and surname for speed and to save my hand!

1066vegan · 29/03/2020 14:10

I'm in my 50s and have always done first initial and surname. Have done this since I was a teenager and decided I wanted a "grownup" signature - copied what my parents did.

Giggorata · 29/03/2020 14:11

I sign initials and surname, or just initials, depending on context. I'm in my sixties.
I am also a Registrar and I would say that initials versus full name signatures on the Marriage Register are about 50-50, with a smattering of squiggles.🙂

InkogKneeToe · 29/03/2020 14:12

Anything official gets first initial and surname. Anything unofficial (I sign 1000+ things a day at work) just gets initials. To be honest both are largely illegible!

VideographybyLouBloom · 29/03/2020 14:13

I’m 40 and have always signed with my first two initials and surname.

willowpatterns · 29/03/2020 14:14

I use first name initial, followed by surname initial and then it all goes to pot.

WPsquiggle

happymummy12345 · 29/03/2020 14:19

I have a hyphenated first name, no middle name. So I use both initials surname. Always have, A B Surname (not my actual initials to be clear).

user1353245678533567 · 29/03/2020 14:20

I do J Smith, because that's the format my mum used.

bigbluebus · 29/03/2020 14:25

I sign BB Bus. I'm 56. DH signs M Bus ( without his middle initial. I think DS (23) signs Little Bus but his handwriting/signature are illegible so can't be sure!

luckymagnoliatree · 29/03/2020 14:27

I used to have initials for my first & middle names and then my surname, but ever since I married, I just use my first initial and surname - purely because my surname is now double barrelled and to have my middle initials as well was just too much! I'm in my mid 30's

PerspicaciaTick · 29/03/2020 14:29

IME over 30s generally have a signature. Under 30s are much less likely to have a signature and are more likely than older people to just use initials or a first name (no surname). People who put love hearts in their signature are a pain.

RedTitsMcGinty · 29/03/2020 14:37

Two initials and surname. I’m in my 40s.

SodaSodaBanana · 29/03/2020 14:38

I have a fairly rare name so I do first name only. It’s a pretty unintelligible squiggle.

SodaSodaBanana · 29/03/2020 14:38

40s

YetAnotherSpartacus · 29/03/2020 14:42

First two initials and surname. Same signature I have had, albeit a little neater, since I first signed for my bank book, aged 7. 50s.

Cheesypotato · 29/03/2020 14:48

First name initial, surname name initial than a squiggly line, in my 30s

TheWordmeister · 29/03/2020 14:49

I write my first name and last name, for no reason other than I enjoy it as it all flows very nicely.

PicturesOfCats · 29/03/2020 14:50

I do first initial then surname
J Bloggs

Iwalkinmyclothing · 29/03/2020 14:51

First and middle name initials and surname with a loop back over half of it from the last letter. Quite similar to my mum's tbh. I'm 38.

JellyfishandShells · 29/03/2020 14:51

Initials and surname - oldie. One DD in 20s does first name and surname , other DD changed her name on marriage ( his name rather elegant and far less prone to mishearing than ours) and stopped using first name and surname, changing signature to first initial and two part surname ( think Von or de )