To write your name in Morse code, spell it letter by letter, put one space between letters and a slash between words. For example, AMY is .- -- -.--. Initials work the same way: J and K together are .--- -.-. Type your name into the translator to check it.
.- -- -.--
Open in the full translatorThe three rules for names
A name has no special code. It is spelled like any other word, so only three rules matter:
- One letter, one code. Look up each letter of the name on the alphabet chart or let the translator do it.
- One space between letters. The space is what tells a reader where one letter ends and the next begins.
- A slash between words. A first and last name are two words, so they are separated by /.
Capital letters make no difference, because Morse code has no upper or lower case. SARAH and Sarah give the same code.
Examples
| Phrase | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|
| AMY | .- -- -.-- | |
| OMAR | --- -- .- .-. | |
| LIAM | .-.. .. .- -- | |
| MARIA | -- .- .-. .. .- | |
| JOHN SMITH | .--- --- .... -. / ... -- .. - .... | |
| AJ | .- .--- |
Press play on any row to hear it. The last example, AJ, shows how short a pair of initials is.
Initials and monograms
Initials are the quickest way to use Morse code in a gift or a design, because two or three letters give you a short, recognisable pattern. A few points help:
- Keep the letter gaps. For the initials J.K., write .--- -.-. The full stops after initials are not part of the code, so leave them out unless you really want a full stop (.-.-.-).
- Choose an order and stay with it. First-name initial first is the usual choice, but a monogram can start with the surname.
- Count the signals. Three initials are usually between six and eleven signals, short enough for a bracelet or a ring.
Do not run the letters together with no gaps. The same dots and dashes can be read as different letters if the gaps are missing, as the guide to reading Morse code explains.
Nicknames, titles and numbers
- Nicknames and short names are spelled out the same way. Many people use the nickname, because it is shorter.
- Names with numbers, such as a year or a house number, use the number codes. Each digit has five signals, and the full list is on the numbers page.
- Hyphens and apostrophes are both in the standard. A hyphen is -....- and an apostrophe is .----., so O'BRIEN and ANNE-MARIE can be written exactly as spelled. Many people simply drop them for a cleaner result.
Accents and non-English letters
International Morse code has no codes for most accented letters, but it does include É. The translator on this site also supports Ä, Ö, Ü, Ñ, À and Ç as widely used extensions, so a name such as JOSÉ, MÜLLER or NUÑEZ can be typed as it is written. Letters outside that list, such as Ú, are not supported, and the translator tells you which ones it left out. Those extra codes are not part of the ITU standard, and a reader who does not know them may be confused. If your name will be read by someone else, the safest choice is to spell it without the accent, for example JOSE.
The other alphabets page covers names written in Greek, Russian and other scripts.
Using your name on a bracelet, gift or tattoo
Many people turn a name into beads, a necklace or a design. The usual method is a short bead or dot for a dot, and a long bead or bar for a dash, with a clear spacer between letters. The Morse code bracelet and tattoo guide walks through the layout step by step. Whatever you choose, translate the name first, then type the finished design back into the translator to confirm that it reads correctly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write my name in Morse code?
Spell your name letter by letter and look up each letter on the Morse code alphabet. Put one space between letters and a slash between words, so a first and last name are separated by a slash. The translator on this site does all of this for you as you type, with nothing to install.
How do I write my initials in Morse code?
Write the code for each initial and leave one space between them. The full stops after the letters are not part of the code and are normally left out. For example, J and K together are .--- -.- with a space between the two letters. Keep the order the same wherever you use it.
Does capitalisation matter in Morse code?
No. Morse code has no upper or lower case, so SARAH and Sarah are written the same way. Only the letters themselves matter, along with the spacing between letters and words. If you need to show that a name is in capitals, you would have to do it in the surrounding text, not in the dots and dashes.
Can Morse code write names with accents?
Only partly. The ITU standard includes É, and many tools, including this one, also support extras such as Ä, Ö, Ü, Ñ, À and Ç. Someone reading the code by hand may not know these extras. If the name needs to be understood by others, the safest choice is to drop the accent.