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49 Headstone Inscriptions for Plaques and Bricks

These inscription ideas are starting points for a headstone, memorial plaque, or memorial brick, and are free to copy and adapt. Ask the cemetery or memorial mason to confirm the allowed length before choosing your wording.

Before you choose wording

  • Ask the cemetery or memorial mason about character limits and wording approval. Confirm the permitted lettering and symbols before anything is cut.
  • Leave room for the name and birth and death dates before choosing an inscription line.
  • Read the line out loud. It should sound like something that belongs with this person's name.
  • Choose faith-based or secular wording that matches the person, not only the family placing the order.

Inscription ideas

Short brick, secular — For a steady presence

SHE HELD US UP

Short brick, secular — For a father

DAD TAUGHT US TO BUILD

Short brick, secular — For a mother

HER DOOR WAS OPEN

Short brick, secular — For a gardener

AT HOME IN THE GARDEN

Short brick, secular — For a reader

ONE MORE PAGE

Short brick, secular — For a partner

I WALKED WITH YOU

Short brick, secular — For a quiet person

A CALM HEART

Short brick, secular — Traditional

IN MEMORY

Short brick, secular — Traditional

REST IN PEACE

Short brick, secular — Traditional

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

Short brick, secular — Traditional

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Short brick, faith-based — In God's care

IN GOD'S CARE

Short brick, faith-based — Rest in God

AT REST IN GOD

Short brick, faith-based — Christian hope

AT HOME WITH CHRIST

Short brick, faith-based — Known by God

KNOWN BY GOD

Short brick, faith-based — Safe in God

SAFE IN GOD

Short brick, faith-based — Traditional Christian line

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Medium, for a parent — Mother, secular

She left a plate in the fridge for whoever came home late.

Medium, for a parent — Father, secular

He warmed up the car before anyone else was ready.

Medium, for a parent — Parent, secular

You made room at the table.

Medium, for a parent — Mother, secular

Her hands mended what we wore.

Medium, for a parent — Father, secular

He knew the way home from every back road.

Medium, for a parent — Parent, secular

You listened until the words came.

Medium, for a spouse or partner — Spouse, secular

We built a home one day at a time.

Medium, for a spouse or partner — Partner, secular

Your chair is still across from mine.

Medium, for a spouse or partner — Spouse, secular

We took the long way home together.

Medium, for a spouse or partner — Partner, secular

You always saved me a seat.

Medium, for a spouse or partner — Spouse, faith-based

We walked in faith together. Now you rest in God's care.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, secular, traditional

Gone too soon. Forever in our hearts.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, secular, for a remembered laugh

We can still hear your laugh in this house.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, secular, for a curious child

You stopped to watch the smallest things. We miss that wonder every day.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, secular

We say your name every day. You are still part of this family.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, faith-based

Our beloved child. Safe in the arms of God. Until we meet again.

Medium or longer, for a child — Child, secular, longer

Loved from the first day. Gone too soon, and still our child.

Longer plaque wording — Bench, secular

He would have made room for you here. He always had time to listen.

Longer plaque wording — Garden, secular

She knew each flower by name. We still tend the beds she planted.

Longer plaque wording — Wall plaque, secular

In memory of [Name]. A patient teacher who made room for every question.

Longer plaque wording — Bench, secular

In memory of the walks we shared. We often stopped here to watch the birds.

Longer plaque wording — Wall plaque, secular

He repaired what others set aside. We still use the things he fixed.

Longer plaque wording — Garden, faith-based

In memory of [Name]. We trust you to God, here among the trees.

For a veteran — For a short plaque, secular

She served with honor. We will not forget.

For a veteran — For a marker, secular

He did his duty and lived with honor. Rest easy now.

For a veteran — For a plaque, secular

In uniform, he looked after others. At home, he made breakfast early.

For a veteran — For a marker, faith-based

A life of service and honor. At rest in God.

For a veteran — For a plaque, secular

Your watch is over. Rest easy now. Remembered with honor.

For a pet — Dog, secular

Every walk was better with you.

For a pet — Cat, secular

Your place in the sun is still here.

For a pet — Dog, secular

You waited at the gate. We remember every welcome.

For a pet — Any animal, secular

A short life. Still part of ours.

Things to Avoid

  • ⚠️Do not order engraving before the cemetery confirms the character limit and wording rules.
  • ⚠️Do not crowd the stone with a long paragraph. A short line is easier to read.
  • ⚠️Do not use a phrase the person would have disliked, even if it is common on memorials.
  • ⚠️Do not put a religious line on a secular person's marker just because it is traditional.
  • ⚠️Check the spelling of names and all dates twice before approving the engraving.

Tips for headstone and plaque wording

  • ✓Start with the name and birth and death dates, then add one short line about a relationship, a belief, or a defining trait. The ideas above supply that line or a short inscription block.
  • ✓For a brick, write in uppercase and count every character, including spaces and punctuation. Many walkway and donor-wall bricks allow three lines of about 13 to 14 characters each. Some vendors allow about 20 per line. Confirm the exact limit; words usually cannot be hyphenated across lines.
  • ✓The short brick groups above use no more than 14 characters per line. A 14-character line still needs approval if your brick allows only 13. Medium wording may fit some plaques but not a tight brick; recheck each line after adapting it.
  • ✓Headstones can often hold a slightly longer line than bricks. Garden, bench, and wall plaques usually work best with a name and dates followed by one sentence or a few short lines.
  • ✓Cemetery and churchyard rules vary. Ask the cemetery or memorial mason about allowed wording, length, lettering, and symbols before anything is cut.
  • ✓Veterans markers can have their own inscription rules. Some US government or veterans marker spaces allow only two short personalized lines, so check before writing a long line.
  • ✓Ask about reserving space if a spouse's name and dates will be added later.
  • ✓Keep a longer memory for a eulogy, a program, or a letter. Let the stone carry the short line you most want to keep.
  • ✓Pet markers in a home garden often have fewer official rules than a cemetery plot. A pet cemetery will still have its own limits.

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