The Diamond Name Necklace Will Always Be Meaningful
Not only does the diamond name necklace come with the perks of personalization, but it’s also the most stylish way to convey a sentimental or meaningful message. You can opt to wear your name inscribed in diamonds, a loved one’s, a nickname, or even a family moniker, like “Mommy.”
Sculpted from precious metals and natural diamonds, you can find a name necklace as customized as the name you choose to wear. Rendered in script, bubble fonts, all capital letters, gothic letters, and more, name necklaces come in all shapes, sizes, and styles.
With a myriad of ways to wear and messages to convey, the name necklace is one “trend” that has and will continue to withstand the test of time. Alison Chemla, the designer behind Alison Lou tells Only Natural Diamonds, “I think people are naturally drawn to jewelry that feels personal and meaningful.”
Meet the Expert
- Alison Chemla is the creative director and designer behind fine jewelry brand Alison Lou.
- She has designed jewelry for numerous celebrities, including Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, and more.
The History of Nameplate Jewelry
Thanks to its rich and widespread cultural significance, nameplate jewelry received some well-deserved flowers when authors Isabel Attyah Flower and Marcel Rosa-Salas peeled back the layers of the onion in their book, The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture, and Identity. In the book’s introduction, Flower and Rosa-Salas write, “Like most expressions of culture, nameplates have no singular origin. Adornment in the form of language is as old as writing itself, and there has been throughout history, an inherent and undeniable power in decorating one’s body with one’s own name.”
The history of nameplate jewelry can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt. Pharaohs and members of the highest echelons of society dipped gold signet rings engraved with hieroglyphic writing into wax to sign official documents. English and Judaic traditions saw mourning jewelry adorn names during the Victorian era. Cultures hailing from Hawaii and Panama adopted the nameplate as family heirlooms and talismans signifying a coming-of-age.
During the excavation of the Titanic in 1987, a nameplate bracelet was unearthed, dating back to the early twentieth century. The name “Amy” is forged in script, set with natural diamonds on a curb link chain.
The Nineties: Name Necklace Nation
In the early ‘90s, name necklaces spiked in popularity amongst Black and Latino youth culture. An assertion of pride and identity with an affirmation of individuality, the nameplate found love within the Hip Hop circuit. Rapper Da Brat was rarely seen without her iconic “BRAT” natural diamond nameplate on a gold chain. Lil’ Kim was known to pair her diamond necklace with her diamond “B” initial necklace, topped with a crown, cementing her status as the “Queen Bee” of the rap world.
The “Carrie Necklace”
While far from the originator of the trend, the nameplate necklace hit the “mainstream” once it was featured in the HBO hit series Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, was known for her fantastic wardrobe and jewelry box. As iconic as her beloved Manolo Blahnik heels and Fendi baguette bags, the gold “Carrie necklace,” became synonymous with the stylish character, inspiring countless “dupes” throughout the show’s six-season run. The necklace features a diamond, dotting the “i” in Carrie. Costume designer Patricia Field has credited “kids in the neighborhood” around her New York City boutique as the inspiration for the jewel. Though Carrie loses the emblematic necklace in one of the final episodes of the series, the piece recently made a comeback in the new spin-off show, And Just Like That.
The Name Necklace Today
Nicki Minaj has often referred to herself as “Barbie,” while her fans are known as the “Barbz.” Throughout the years, Minaj has commissioned several iterations of the Barbie pendant. In 2009, she wore a natural diamond “Barbie” nameplate by Avianne & Co. Most recently, the rapper commissioned a new name necklace from Ashna Mehta, boasting 54.47 carats of diamonds on 18-karat gold and bright Barbie-pink enamel.
Emily Ratajkowski, for example, has been known to wear a diamond-encrusted LaJoux nameplate “Colombo” necklace in honor of her beloved Husky-German Shepherd mix. After becoming a mother, the model added a gold-plated “mama” necklace to the mix, flanked by two princess-cut diamonds, along with a diamond “Sylvester” name necklace in homage to her son, Sylvester Apollo Bear. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and more can count themselves devoted fans of the diamond-encrusted name necklace.
SZA stormed the stage at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans alongside Kendrick Lamar and his controversial natural diamond “a” necklace from Eliantte with a meaningful necklace of her own. The singer sported a custom diamond “Lana” nameplate tennis necklace by Lana Jewelry. Not just bearing the name of its jeweler, but the necklace pays tribute to SZA’s given name, Solána, and her latest album, LANA, released in late 2024.
Shop Diamond Name Necklaces
See the name necklaces on our wishlist from some of our favorite designers.
Lana Jewelry Custom Diamond Tennis Nameplate Necklace, Price Upon Request, lanajewelry.com.
Ring Concierge Personalized Diamond Script Name Necklace
$1,098, ringconcierge.com.
Sydney Evan Gold & Diamond Small Custom Script Eye Icon Necklace, $1,520, sydneyevan.com.
Kay Jewelers Diamond Script Name Necklace 1/20 ct tw 14K Yellow Gold, $2,999.99, kay.com.
Jade Trau Nameplate Necklace, $3,400, jadetrau.com.
Stephanie Gottlieb Small Bubble With Pave Outline Necklace, $1,500, stephaniegottlieb.com.
Eriness Diamond Resist Necklace, $1,650, eriness.com.
EF Collection Luxe Diamond Script Name Necklace, $3,395, efcollection.com.
Ice Box Custom Script Letter Nameplate Diamond Pendant, $1,000, icebox.com.
Alison Lou Custom Word Necklace, $775, alisonlou.com.
Shay Jewelry Diamond Baguette Threads 7 Letter Name Necklace, $23,000, shayjewelry.com.
