How to make a name tracing worksheet
- Type the name exactly as your child should write it, usually a capital letter followed by lowercase (Emma). For a class, type every name on its own line.
- Pick the letter style and size: print for beginners, cursive for older children; large letters for preschool, smaller as handwriting improves.
- Choose the extras: a solid example row, green start dots, empty rows for writing on their own, and a name and date line.
- Download and print at 100%. Each name gets its own full page.
Why practise with their own name?
A child’s name is usually the first word they want to write, and the one they see most often: on coat pegs, drawings and books. Tracing it builds the hand movements for its letters, and the result is immediately meaningful, which keeps young children motivated for longer than random letters.
Letter size by age
| Size setting | Capital letter height | Typical age |
|---|---|---|
| Large | 25 mm (about 1 inch) | 3–5, preschool and reception |
| Medium | 19 mm (3/4 inch) | 5–6, kindergarten and year 1 |
| Small | 14 mm | 6–8 |
| Extra small | 10 mm | 8 and up |
Reading the lines
- Top line: capitals and tall letters (b, d, h, k, l) reach it.
- Dashed midline: small letters (a, c, e, m, n, o) reach it.
- Red baseline: every letter sits on it.
- Dotted lower line: tails of g, j, p, q and y drop to it.
Tips from teachers
- Trace with a pencil or a crayon held in a tripod grip, starting each letter at its green dot.
- Slide the sheet into a clear plastic sleeve and use a dry-wipe pen to practise the same page every day.
- Once tracing is easy, tick Empty row after each traced row so your child writes the name alone under each traced copy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a name tracing worksheet?
Type the name (one per line for several children), choose print or cursive and the letter size, then download the PDF. Each name gets its own page filled with tracing rows.
Which letter size should I choose?
Large (about 1 inch tall capitals) for ages 3–5, medium for 5–6, small for 6–8 and extra small from 8. If the name doesn’t fit across the page, the tool shrinks it; choose landscape for long names.
What are the green dots?
They mark where each stroke starts, so children learn to begin letters in the right place rather than tracing backwards.
Should names be in capitals?
Most schools teach a capital first letter followed by lowercase letters (Emma, not EMMA). Choose “As typed” and type it that way, or switch to all capitals for children just starting out.
Is it free for a whole class?
Yes. Put every child’s name on its own line and download one PDF with a page per child.
Last updated 2026-10-19.