Name Tracing Generator
Type a name and print a name tracing worksheet in seconds. Paste a class list and every child gets a sheet of their own, all in one PDF. The dots follow the centre line of each letter, the way a pen moves, and the print styles show numbered strokes with arrows. Choose print, slanted print or cursive, a line size from 3/8 in to 1 in, and US Letter or A4.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Names and text stay in your browser: nothing is uploaded, and nothing is saved when you close the page.
Letters
Stroke guides are on the two print styles, where we drew every stroke ourselves.
Lines and paper
Rows
Colours and print details
Print at 100% (Actual size) so the lines keep their true size. Cursive and joined styles use the Playwrite typefaces (SIL Open Font License); print letters are our own drawing.
How to make a name tracing sheet
- Type a name, or paste one name per line for a class. You can also add a .txt or .csv list.
- Pick a letter style, a tracing look (dots, dashes or light grey) and a line size.
- Choose the rows: a solid example, a letter by letter row, a repeat across the line, a fade, and blank rows to finish on.
- Check the preview, using Next to look through the class.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size).
What you can use it for
- Name practice sheets for a whole class, with one sheet per child
- A first-week activity for preschool or kindergarten
- Home printouts for one child, with a first name and a last name
- Laminated sheets for dry-erase pens
- Cursive name and signature practice for older children or adults
- Sheets for a name with accents, like Zoë or José
Name tracing worksheets for a whole class
- One name per line gives one sheet per name, all in one PDF. Names can come from a spreadsheet: paste the column, or add a .csv and the first column is used.
- Each sheet is checked on its own. A long name drops to a smaller line so it fits, and the tool lists the names that changed.
- Use Next to page through the sheets before you print, and SVG to save a single sheet.
- Pair a sheet with a name tag or a desk name plate for the first week back.
Dots on the centre line
Many tracing sheets use an outlined font: two lines around each letter, with nothing to follow down the middle. These sheets put one line of dots where the pen goes. Our print letters are drawn as single strokes, and the cursive styles are thinned to their centre line in your browser, so a joined word stays one dotted path.
Prefer another look? Switch Tracing letters to dashes or light grey letters.
Line sizes and rows per sheet
| Line size | Top to baseline | Middle line | One row, with room below | Rows, US Letter | Rows, A4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 25.4 mm | 12.7 mm | 43.7 mm | 5 | 6 |
| 3/4 in | 19.1 mm | 9.5 mm | 32.8 mm | 7 | 8 |
| 5/8 in | 15.9 mm | 7.9 mm | 27.3 mm | 9 | 9 |
| 1/2 in | 12.7 mm | 6.4 mm | 21.8 mm | 11 | 12 |
| 3/8 in | 9.5 mm | 4.8 mm | 16.4 mm | 15 | 16 |
Row counts are for a sheet with no heading and the small print note on. A title, a name and date heading or a drawing box takes some rows away.
Letter styles
| Style | Letters | Stroke guides |
|---|---|---|
| Print (ball and stick) | Our own drawing | Yes |
| Slanted print with tails | Our own drawing | Yes |
| Traditional cursive (US) | Playwrite US Trad (SIL Open Font License) | No |
| Modern cursive (US) | Playwrite US Modern (SIL Open Font License) | No |
| Semi-joined (UK) | Playwrite GB S (SIL Open Font License) | No |
| Slanted joined (Australia) | Playwrite AU NSW (SIL Open Font License) | No |
School handwriting styles differ by country and by school. These are general styles, not the official model of any school programme, so choose the one closest to what your class uses.
Tips for good name sheets
- Use “Capital first” to make a list typed in capitals match. It keeps hyphens: Mary-Jane stays Mary-Jane.
- “Letter by letter” adds a row with the letters spaced apart, one at a time.
- “Fade the rows” gets lighter down the page, and blank rows finish the sheet.
- Short names look sparse on a long line: tick “Repeat the name across each line”.
- For plain writing paper with the same lines, use the lined paper tool. For guide sheets in nib widths, see calligraphy practice sheets.
More free print sheets
Printing for a classroom or kitchen table?
Lined paper, calligraphy guide sheets, name tags and certificates: free tools that run in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a name tracing worksheet?
Type the name, pick a letter style and a line size, and download the PDF. The sheet fills with rows of the name in dots, with a solid example on top and a blank row at the end. You can change any of that.
Is this name tracing generator free?
Yes. Every style, size and download is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on sheets.
Can I make name tracing sheets for a whole class?
Yes. Paste one name per line, or add a .txt or .csv list, and each name gets its own sheet in one PDF, up to 200 names at a time. The PNG download gives you a ZIP with one picture per sheet.
Are the children’s names uploaded or saved?
No. The sheets are made in your browser, so the names never leave your device, and nothing is stored once you close the page.
Can I make cursive name tracing sheets?
Yes. Choose Traditional cursive, Modern cursive, Semi-joined or Slanted joined. The letters join up and the dots follow the joined line.
What are the numbers and arrows on the letters?
They show the order and direction of each stroke on the print styles, on the first row. We drew those letters stroke by stroke. Schools teach letter formation in different ways, so check that it matches your own. You can switch to start dots or turn the guides off.
Why are there no stroke arrows on cursive?
The cursive styles come from typefaces, which hold the shape of a letter but not the order it is written in. Rather than guess, the arrows stay on the print styles.
What size lines should I use?
That depends on the writer, so print a test sheet. 1 in and 3/4 in lines are common for very young writers, and 1/2 in or smaller suits older ones. The tool shows the line size in the small note at the foot of the sheet.
What if a name is too long for the line?
The sheet for that name drops to a smaller line size so the whole name fits, and the tool tells you which names changed. The other sheets keep the size you picked. Landscape paper gives long names more room.
Can I put a first name and last name on the sheet?
Yes. Type both on one line, like Maya Lin. They stay together on each row.
Does it handle accents?
Yes. Names like Zoë, José, Renée and Ñico work in every style. Print letters outside the alphabet we drew, such as ø, or other scripts, use your device’s font, so they look different and have no stroke arrows.
How do I print it at the right size?
Print the PDF at 100% or “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”. The line size in the note at the foot of the sheet is then the true size on paper.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes. Type the names and download the PDF, then print it or send it to a printer later.
Can I share the sheets?
Yes. Print and share them with your class or family. The print letters are our own drawing, and the cursive styles use Playwrite under the SIL Open Font License.