Birthday messages: what to write in a birthday card
A birthday is the perfect moment to say what we often keep to ourselves. Here are heartfelt birthday messages — touching, short, funny or formal — to copy as they are or personalize in seconds.
Touching
- Happy birthday. Another year older, and somehow you just keep getting better. I hope this one brings you everything you've been quietly wishing for — you deserve all of it.
Short
- Happy birthday! Hope your day is as wonderful as you are.
Funny
- Happy birthday! You're not older — you're a limited edition that's simply been around a little longer. Now let's go eat cake.
Formal
- Wishing you a very happy birthday and a year filled with health, joy and success. May the months ahead be as bright as you deserve.
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Frequently asked questions — birthday messages
What should I write in a birthday card?
Name the occasion and the person, add one concrete detail — a memory, a quality, a wish — and keep it to two or three sentences. A short, sincere birthday message always beats a long, generic one.
What is a good short birthday message?
Pick one warm idea and say it plainly. On this page, the "short" tone gives you two-line birthday messages you can copy straight onto a card.
How do I personalize a message I found online?
Start from an example close to the tone you want, then swap one or two elements for something specific — a first name, a shared memory, a date. Our generator can do this for you in the tone you choose.