Headstone Wording for a Teenager

Choosing words for a teenager's headstone is one of the hardest tasks a family can face. There's no right answer — only words that feel true to who they were and how much they were loved.

Opening lines

• Beloved Son and Brother
• Our Beautiful Daughter
• Forever Loved
• Our Shining Star
• Loved Beyond Measure

Short epitaphs

• Forever young, forever loved.
• Your light still shines.
• Too loved to be forgotten.
• Gone too soon, loved forever.
• Your laugh lives in all of us.
• Fly high.
• Always our girl. / Always our boy.

Including who they were

Teenagers had passions and big circles of friends. Ideas:

• A nickname in quotes — see nicknames on headstones.
• A jersey number or team emblem.
• A guitar, paintbrush or soccer ball etching.
• A line their friends chose.
• A QR code linking to photos and videos — see QR code headstones.

Faith-based lines

• Safe in the arms of Jesus.
• With God, forever young.
• Until we meet again.
• The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. (Psalm 34:18)

Example layout

See headstone wording for a young adult.

When parents disagree on wording

Grief affects each parent differently, and choosing words can bring disagreement. It can help to each write down three lines you like, then look for overlap. The front can carry the shared core — name, dates, one short line — while the back holds a longer tribute from each parent or from siblings. There's no deadline; a temporary marker can stay in place while you decide. See when family disagrees about a headstone.

Key Takeaways

• There's no wrong wording — choose what feels true.
• Nicknames, numbers and passions make it personal.
• Friends can contribute a line.
• A QR code can share photos and videos.

Next Step

Take your time. When you're ready, the Design Studio lets you try wording privately.