Birthday Wishes: What to Write in a Birthday Card

When the card has already said it all or you just feel like keeping things short and sweet, a few short, sweet words might be the way to go. Here are some ideas for adding a little extra warmth and personality to your mighty little message.

Examples

• “Happy, Happy Birthday, [Nina]!”
• “I hope you get to do something fun to celebrate!”
• “You deserve everything happy. Wishing you that all year long!”
• “[Aaron], hope you have a happy [27th]! Love ya!”
• “Happy Birthday to a strong and brilliant daughter who will turn the world around!”
• “Gil, Warmest wishes for a happy birthday,”
• “Hope today’s filled with all your favourite guilty pleasures!”
• “Devonte, hope you make your [25th] a birthday to remember!”
• “Go forth from this birthday and prosper in your [ukulele playing]!”
• “Carolina, you are living your best life! And this year it really shows.”
• “Another year older, and you just keep getting stronger, wiser, funnier and more amazing!”
• “Aliyah, Happy Birthday to one of my favourite people in the history of ever.”
• “Elana, thanks for being here, for being you.”
• “Warmest wishes and love on your birthday and always!”
• “I see you out here looking like time is standing still! Happy Birthday.”
• “Be safe, have fun, take pictures, and enjoy every minute of this exciting time in your life!”
• “Daria, so grateful that God put you on this earth and in my life.”
• “Wishing you a happy birthday and a year that’s blessed.”
• “Keep vibin’ and thrivin’, Queen! Here’s to another blessed birthday.”
• “#Slaying! On your birthday and every other day, too. Happy Birthday, Beauty.”
• ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! Que seas muy feliz, no solo hoy, sino todos los días de tu vida.

Writing tip: One Hallmark writer said she chooses her cards very carefully for each birthday person so that she doesn’t have to add much in the way of a personal message. In other words, it’s fine to let the printed message and design do most of the talking for you. Even professional writers do it!

The milestone birthday person might not wake up feeling like this birthday is particularly special or different from any other. So, it’s your job to let him or her know what a big deal it is to have a nice, round-number birthday!

Examples

• “[50] never looked so great!”
• “Happy Birthday, Marcus! Now that you’ve arrived here, [40] will never be the same again!”
• “Turning [60] is big! Especially when it’s someone like you, who has made the most of each year and made such a positive difference for the people in your life.”
• “Tía, you are 50 years of fun, laughter and love. Te quiero mucho!”
• “[30] is the perfect age. You’re old enough to afford the good stuff and still young enough to enjoy it!”
• “Happy [90th] Birthday, [Nana Betty]! Today, we’re celebrating the amazing [woman] you are, honouring the life you’ve lived and, just like always, loving you so much!”
• “Happy Birthday, Bae! Look who’s making 40 look fly!”
• Hoy es una ocasión muy especial. Hoy cumples 50 años, y celebramos el regalo que es tu vida. ¡Muchas felicidades!

Writing tip: Ages 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 and 100 are traditionally considered milestones. Cards specific to these birthdays will feature the age number prominently in their design, but you can make any card a milestone card (or any birthday a milestone birthday) by writing that shiny new age number somewhere in your personal message.

Also keep in mind that milestone birthdays vary by culture. Thirteen is considered a milestone birthday for Jewish boys who become a bar mitzvah. Jewish girls are celebrated when they become a bat mitzvah at 12 or 13. Quinceañeras, when young girls turn 15 and begin to enter womanhood, are milestone birthdays in Latinx culture. And in some eastern Asian cultures, like in China and Korea, the first 100 days of a child’s life is cause for huge celebration, as is the first birthday.

Sharing a laugh in a funny birthday card is a great way to personalize a card for someone you know well. Wisecracks about getting older, jokes about over-indulging, gags about gifts (or the lack thereof)—all are good possibilities for funny messages.

Examples

• “Happy birthday to my favourite former punk rocker!” (Or: hippie, goth, Valley Girl, grunge rocker)
• “From one of your favourite bad influences” (Added after the card’s printed “Happy Birthday”)
• “Hope it’s happier than me at a shoe sale!” (or: spa, bar, coffee shop, beach.)
• “You get to be the centre of attention today! Tomorrow it’s back to me.
• “Have a martini for me! Or two!” (Or: substitute recipient’s favourite drink.)
• “I think this is the year you get a pony! JK That’s never.”
• “Happy birthday to you and your cat! (I know how the cat hates to be left out.)”
• “May the cake calories go straight to your boobs!”
• “How does it feel to be living proof that Black don’t crack?”
• “To quote Shakespeare: ‘Party thine ass off!’”
• “Dibs on the presents you don’t like!”
• “You totally don’t look like crap at all!”
• “I hope all your wishes come true, even the weird ones.”
• “Sorry there’s no money in here.”
• “Please stop aging so gracefully. It’s getting kind of boring and predictable.”
• “Have a great day, you old geezer! (Takes one to know one, right?)”
• “We all know you’re just showing up to show out on your birthday! And we all cosign.”
• “Father Time texted. He can’t with you.”
• ¡Feliz Cumpleaños a alguien increíble, divertido, inteligente… Bueno, creo que ya fueron muchos piropos, ¿no crees? ¡Felicidades!

Writing Tip: Try to sound like you do when you’re talking. Like, if you say “like” all the time, write “like” a lot. It’s OK and it’s, like, more personal and the person can kind of hear you talking and from there, you can refer to something funny that happened and they’ll laugh because, like, it totally reminds them of when the funny thing happened!

Late really is better than never! If life, memory lapse or alien abduction has interfered with the timely delivery of your card, send it anyway. You can include a sincere or humourous apology…or just frame it as your way of extending the birthday fun!

Examples

• “So sorry these birthday wishes are late reaching you. I hope it was happy!”
• “Happy Birthday…a little late!”
• “You’re receiving this NOW and not on your ACTUAL birthday, because I am extremely thoughtful and wanted to be sure the celebration of YOU was not limited to just one day. That is so nice of me, right? Well, you are worth it.”
• “At least my Happy Birthday text was on time. That counts for something, right? Happy Belated Birthday!”
• “I don’t know where my mind was, but I forgot your birthday…until now. At least this way I’ll stand out from the crowd when I tell you you’re amazing and awesome. Have a great year!”
• “This birthday wish is not late. It’s just well-aged/well-seasoned.”
• “We all have to wait for some of the best things in life—like a birthday card from a sister who picked the perfect one for you and then left it sitting on the counter next to the stamps.”
• Un poco tarde, pero espero que te la hayas pasado muy bien en tu cumpleaños. Te deseo lo mejor.

Writing tip: Cards made specifically for belated birthdays are good for when you remember the birthday after the fact. However, if you already have the card but just didn’t get it delivered on time, stick with what you’ve got. You can mention its lateness in your personal message—or not. It’s really your call.

Sometimes you just want to tell someone, “Thanks for being a good friend.” A birthday card is a great way to do just that.

Examples

• “Happy Birthday to a friend I couldn’t live without!”
• “In case I don’t tell you often enough, I really appreciate your friendship. And I’m so grateful for all you bring to my life!”
• “If life were a sitcom, you’d be the witty, glamorous friend and I’d be the dorky sidekick. And I don’t mind that at all. I hope you have a GREAT birthday.”
• “Gettin’ old ain’t for babies. They can’t handle this much fun!”
• “Girl, age can’t handle your hotness! Happy Birthday, Friend.”
• “It just occurred to me that we really are becoming OLD friends. So glad we are.”
• “Love you, my sweet friend. Happy Birthday.”
• “In my soul, I call you sister. Happy Birthday to a phenomenal woman.”
• “Hope every little piece of this day is good, Man.”
• ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Amiga! ¡Que vengan muchos más! ¡Te quiero mucho!

Writing tip: If you’ve chosen a blank or just-for-fun card simply because you know your friend would like it, you can easily make it a birthday card by mentioning birthday somewhere in your personal message. Friendship is flexible like that!

What you write to your mother on her birthday will depend on the kind of relationship the two of you share. In general, love, appreciation, and upbeat wishes are a good bet. If she’s got a healthy sense of humour, feel free to make her laugh. You can always keep it light one year, and go more heartfelt the next.

Examples

• “Happy Birthday, with heartfelt thanks and lots of love, to my wise, wonderful, one-and-only Mom.”
• “You’re the best, Mom. Love you.”
• “Wishing a beautiful day for my beautiful mama.”
• “The more time goes by, the more grateful I am to have you for my mother.”
• “Hope your birthday brings some time to relax and remember how much you’re loved by family, friends and community.”
• “I don’t say it enough, but it’s always true: I love you, and I feel so lucky to call you my mom.”
• “For all the days you’ve made happy for our family…all the ways you make us smile…happy birthday with lots of love.”
• “Mama, on your birthday, celebrating your strength, your passion for life and the loving way you bring change into the world.”
• “Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, Mom. Have fun! Miss you!”
• “Happy Birthday from your favourite! (I probably don’t even need to sign my name after that, do I?)”
• “Mami, Happy Birthday to you, the angel of all our hearts.”
• “With love from the reason for most of your grey hairs.”
• “Happy Birthday, Mom. I hope everything about today reminds you how loved and cherished you are.”
• Mamá, que tengas un día tan hermoso como tú, y que este nuevo año esté lleno de mucho amor, alegría y bendiciones. ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

Writing Tip: Sharing a birthday memory can be a fun idea for mom, too: “I still remember you all dressed up to go out for your 40th birthday. I thought I had the prettiest mom in the world. I still do.”

Love, thanks, and warm wishes make good birthday messages for dad, too. Again, let your relationship be your guide, and write from the heart.

Examples

• “To my hero…my strong and loving daddy.”
• “Birthday and every day, it means so much to have a great Dad like you.”
• “I really got lucky when I got you for my Dad.”
• “You’ve always been a great father, and you’ve become a real friend, too. I love that…and I love you, Baba.”
• “For lessons you’ve taught…For days you’ve saved…For everything…Thanks, Dad.”
• “I’ve always been proud of the smart, honest, good man you are—and so very proud to be your son.”
• “Daddy, today the cookout is in your honour. And, yes. You can still season the meat.”
• “You’re more than a dad. You’re the greatest man I know.”
• “Happy Birthday, Dad! Hope the sun is shining, and the fish are biting!”
• “I hope you get a hole-in-one today. If not, just lie and tell me you did anyway. I’ll never know the difference.”
• “Papi, you are GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLS! Celebrating you and your love of life today.”
• “For the man who taught me everything I know. From the kid who paid to attention to roughly half of all you tried to teach.”
• “Dad, I hope you find a fun way to waste some time on your birthday. You have my permission!”
• “Daddy, celebrating you as my rock and as a loving pillar of our community.”
• “You deserve a margarita with the good tequila today! And every day. Happy birthday to a top-shelf kind of Dad!”
• “Dad, thinking of you today and hoping you’re making your birthday a good day.”
• Papá, en tu cumpleaños quiero recordarte lo mucho que te quiero y te admiro. ¡Disfruta mucho tu día!

Writing Tip: Even a dad who never gets mushy in person can still appreciate a warm and loving written message. Cards are a perfect vehicle for saying the heartfelt things that can be hard to say face-to-face.

If you don’t like to write a lot on a birthday card, then send more cards to kids, because even those who have learned to read are often too excited to sit through a very long message. Keep your wish short, sweet and fun, and your card will be a hit with the birthday kid.

Examples

• “[7] years awesome! That’s you!”
• “All hail the birthday princess! Have a royally sweet [5th], [Kyla]!”
• “Yay! You’re [4] today! Love you, big [4]-year-old!”
• “Happy Birthday to our new favourite [6]-year-old!”
• “[Kai], you’re getting to be such a big [girl]! Happy [3rd] Birthday, Sweetheart. We love you!”
• “[Elliott]! How can you be [9] already? Why, just yesterday, you were [8]. Oh, well. Have a happy one, birthday boy!”
• “[Tyler], I’ve got a feeling you’re going to make a pretty amazing [11]-year-old. Happy Birthday!”
• “Hope this whole exciting year of being [13] kicks off with a very fun, very happy birthday!”
• ¡Feliz Día! Que tengas un cumpleaños muy divertido.

Writing tip: Some adults might not want to be reminded of their new age, but kids will love seeing that you know exactly how old they are now! If it’s not already printed on the card, be sure to write the birthday kid’s age somewhere in your message.

If you’re married to or dating the birthday boy or girl, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship. Depending on your circumstances, it might also be a great chance for a little flirtatious fun.

Examples

• “I’m so grateful you came into the world because you make my world better every day. Happy Birthday, Baby.”
• “Hope your birthday cake is the second sweetest thing I get to taste today. Those lips tho!”
• “Thanks for you being you and being mine.”
• “It’s your day, and I can’t wait to celebrate it with you.”
• “Baby, I’m celebrating the special sweetness and deep goodness of you today. Happy Birthday.”
• “I hope your birthday is the happiest.”
• “Happy Birthday, Beautiful.”
• “Wish you were here for me to spoil today.”
• “Beautiful. Sweet. Tasty. And I ain’t talking about the cake. Happy Birthday, Bae.”
• ¡Feliz vuelta al sol, mi vida! Haces que el mundo sea mejor, y por eso hoy te celebro.

Writing tip: Using your private pet name for the recipient can instantly make a simple message more warm and personal. No matter what you say, use words that sound like you.

Chances are, your family members will be getting a lot of birthday cards from you through the years, so you can mix it up and write a longer personal message some years and a shorter message others. Love, compliments and warm wishes all work nicely for family. So do “Proud of you” and “I’m glad we’re family” messages.

Examples

• “Every year, I’m even more grateful to have a [brother] like you.”
• “Maya, you are bursting with life. Celebrating today what a joy you are to be around.”
• “We still remember the first time we laid eyes on you—on this day [23] years ago. You were so beautiful right from the start, and with every year, you grow even more beautiful. Hope you know how much we love you and how grateful we are to call you our [daughter].”
• “Nothing feels safer than coming home to you, love, tradition and heritage, Mama.”
• “So proud of the person you are! So happy we’re family.”
• “I am just so in awe of you…and so proud to call you my [sister].”
• “Well, [Grandpa], another year has gone by, and I still haven’t come across anyone wiser, kinder, more generous or better at [checkers] than you. You’re the best!”
• “Amil, you do life big and love bigger. Love having you as a brother and celebrating your goodness.”
• Felicidades, Hermano. Eres muy importante para mí, y por eso en tu cumpleaños deseo que recibas mucho amor y felicidad.

Writing tip: If your card doesn’t specifically mention your family relationship with the recipient, include it in your personal message. You can either address the recipient by the title you use for them (Nana, Pop-Pop, Aunt Suzie, etc.), or mention the relationship (sister, cousin, etc.) somewhere in your message.

Sometimes we want to send a birthday message but the timing or the relationship is complicated. Those are the times you can let the card do the talking—or you can write a simple, sincere message that says just enough.

Examples

• “I hope your day is full of all the things that make you happy.”
• “On your birthday, know I’m thinking about you and wishing you good things.”
• “Birthdays are a chance to let people know how much they matter to you. You matter to me, and I want you to have a good day.”
• “Wishing you a birthday that is everything you need.”
• “Today is your day. We’ll have time to figure stuff out later—for now, I just want you to have the day you deserve.”
• “Hoping you feel pampered and celebrated on your special day.”
• “Even when things are complicated between us, I still care about you and wish you all the best today.”
• “We’ll always be family/friends, and I’ll always care about you.”
• “We’ve been through some things, but we’ve still got something to celebrate: you and what a good person you are.”
• “I hope someday things are better between us and we get back to being the sisters we each deserve. Today, I just want to wish you a happy birthday and tell you I love you.”
• “Just two words: ‘Happy Birthday.’ Well, three more: ‘I love you.’”
• “Our history together means I’ll always think of you on your birthday. I hope this is a good one.”
• Espero que tu día esté lleno de todas las cosas que te hacen feliz.

Helpful tip: When you need a simple birthday card for a complicated relationship, search by “Tone.” Try looking under “General Wish,” “Short and Simple” or “Simply Stated.”

Birthdays are happy occasions that sometimes fall during tough times due to illness, job loss, bereavement or other challenging circumstances. A card is a great way to let the birthday person know you’re still thinking of (and celebrating) them even in the midst of a difficult year.

Examples

• “I know you’ve had some real challenges this year, and it has been great to see how well you have met them.”
• “What a year. You made it! Let’s celebrate THAT!”
• “Life owes you some really good times. Hope they start right now.”
• “You’ve had more than your share of challenges this year—hope this will feel like a brand-new year of better days.”
• “I hope this next year is gentle and sweet to you and gives you lots of reasons to smile and lots of time to rest.”
• “No matter what we’ve all been through, there’s one good thing we can still celebrate with absolute happiness: You.”
• “Celebrating how we came through together and how you rose to and past each occasion to get your glory. Happy Birthday. So proud of you.”
• “You came through this year striving, strong and resilient—especially for a time like now. And we couldn’t be more proud. Happy Birthday.”
• Que este nuevo año no tengas que superar retos, sino que sea uno lleno de alegres momentos. Te lo mereces. Felicidades.

Writing tip: Humour can be a great day-brightener even in the midst of a challenging time. If you know the birthday person appreciates a good laugh, feel free to choose a funny card and/or add a humourous personal message.

Let your relationship guide you when signing a birthday card for a co-worker. If it’s someone you’re close to, you can be as casual in your message as you would with non-work friends. If it’s your supervisor or someone with whom you have a relationship that’s more strictly about work, then keep your message more formal.

Examples

• “Happy Birthday and all the best to you in the year to come!”
• “It’s a pleasure to work with you…and to wish you a happy birthday!”
• “[Cecily], all work and no play makes us dull girls. So don’t work too hard on your birthday. Hope it’s happy!”
• “Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for baking you the cake in the break room. Fortunately, I can totally have a slice in your honour. Yum…and Happy Birthday!”
• “You make work a lot less like work. Thanks for all you do!”
• “You make work a lot less like work. Thanks for all you do!”
• “Happy Birthday to the funniest member of my work fam!”
• “You really GLOWED UP in that cubicle! Get it, Girl! Happy Birthday.”
• Es un placer trabajar contigo. Te deseo el más feliz de los cumpleaños.

Writing tip: Do resist any urge to talk shop when signing a birthday card for a co-worker. Your card is a place for official birthday business only.

Here are some ideas for when you’re the umpteenth person to sign the birthday card, and all the obvious messages (and most of the space) have already been taken.

Examples

• “Celebrating you!”
• “Happy day!”
• “I salute you.”
• “Birthday cheers!”
• “Birthday hugs!”
• “Let the b-day fun begin!”
• “Let us eat cake!”
• “Have a sweet one!”
• “Huzzah to you on your birthday!”
• “Be so happy.”
• “Happy Birthday & Happy Year!”
• “Happy wishes to you!”
• “YES to party hats!”
• “…and many more.”
• “Another year more wonderful!”
• “You’re awesome!”
• “You’re the best!”
• “You look great!”
• “U look 2 good 2 B this old!”
• “Can’t believe you’re a year older!”
• “Here’s to you!”
• “Here’s to a great birthday!”
• “Make a wish!”
• “Wish for something good!”
• “Whatever you wish, I second that!”
• “Party on!”
• “Stay cool.”
• “Stay sweet!”
• “Honoured to wish you a happy birthday!”
• “¡Salud! ¡Dinero! ¡Amor!” (Spanish for “health, money, love”)
• “Love you!”
• “Party like it’s your birthday! Because…you know why!”
• “Cosigning your happy!”
• ¡Pásatelo súper bien!