Birthday Card Messages - - What to Write in a Card

Birthday messages can be fun when you know what to write, but that's not always easy. Figuring out a birthday message for your friend, relative, mom, dad, son, daughter, or other loved one can be a challenge. Sometimes you need a little help getting started writing a card message. Use this page as a reference for ideas.

Combine these birthday message ideas or change them as you need to and make them fit the person who will receive your birthday wishes. Some are thoughtful and some are funny birthday card messages. Examples include milestone, belated, family and friend focused messages, and funny birthday wishes. Birthdays tend to be a fun time to let your sense of humor shine through in your greeting card message. Have fun writing your birthday card message with the help of this page.

1. "I'm wishing a happy birthday for a person I'm happy to know!"
2. "May you not only be blessed on your birthday, but may you be surprised by blessings through the entire next year."
3. "I hope you enjoy your birthday as much as I enjoy being around you."
4. "It is clear that God created you for a great purpose, and it all started with your birthday. Happy Birthday!"
5. "No matter how many birthdays go by, I always feel young when I'm around you because you are full of life and energy. Happy Birthday!"
6. "Wishing you many more years of health and prosperity."
7. "All the gifts you get today won't compare to the gifts you generously give to those you know and love."
8. "This is just one day of the year we get to celebrate the amazing person you are the way you deserve to be celebrated."
9. "Many things have changed over the years, but you're still the same great person you always have been."
10. "Happy Birthday, to a timeless classic, who will never go out of style."
11. "Wishing you a Happy Birthday. May God continue to bless you with many more years."
12. "We hope that your birthday was wonderful, and we hope this year is filled with amazing and fun adventures to come your way."
13. "Your birth was the beginning of many great plans that God has for your life."
14. "You are the coolest person I know who was born on (_/_/_)!"
15. "Your birthday is an important date for me; because it is the day the love of my life was born."
16. "Today, you’re a little more beautiful, smart, witty, and awesome. You also happen to be a little older too. Happy Birthday!"

Here are some examples of funny and playful birthday messages. Watch out, because these are a little corny.

1. "Be reminded today of not only how old you are getting, but also how wise you are getting."
2. "Happy Birthday! You're one year closer to your death day." (for the pessimist)
3. "It's debatable whether birthdays are actually good for you or bad for you. Each birthday that you have lowers your life expectancy by one year, while those who have the most birthdays tend to have the highest life expectancy."
4. "I was going to get a cake with a picture of you just after you were born printed on top, but the cake decorator said it was easier to just give you the cake with Yoda. May the force be with you young Jedi." (for the Star Wars fan)
5. "You are getting really old for your age."
6. "Merry Christmas" (for the nonconformist, or if you are writing a message for Jesus). You can also use another type of card such as a Sympathy card to say, "Sorry you got older today."
7. "There were a lot of famous people born on your birthday. Too bad you are not one of those people." (for the sarcastic type)
8. "Even though I don't see how it would be possible, I am celebrating the fact that someone even more annoying than you was not born in your place. Just Kidding, Happy Birthday!"
9. "They didn't have any birthday cards old enough for you even at the antique store, so I had to make my own papyrus card for you."
10. "Screw the Republican and Democratic parties, I'm voting for the birthday party." (o.k. this is lame)
11. "Glad to celebrate your birthday with you today... It sure beats the alternative."
12. "If there is a positive correlation between age and wisdom, then you must be getting extremely wise."
13. "Shouldn't your mom get your birthday presents? After all, she did most of the work that day. Happy Birthday to you and her!"
14. "No one holds a candle to you, especially on your birthday. You have enough candles on your cake as it is."
15. "It may be a good thing, or it may be a bad thing. They definitely broke the mold when you were born."
16. "Wrinkles are tally marks of our birthdays. Here’s to another wrinkle!"
17. "You may not like me giving you advice, but if I were you, I’d have a happy birthday."
18. "I know you’ll have a happy birthday… because when it comes to having birthdays, you have a lot of experience."
19. "The older you get, the more stuff you know. So tell me, where are the best senior citizen discounts?"

Cut the tension of being late with your birthday wishes by using a funny belated birthday message like one of the following.

1. "The only difference between my birthday wishes and those that were on time is the verb tense used. In that case, I hope you HAD a great birthday!"
2. "Birthday cards are like overdue items from the library. The later they are, the bigger the fine." (Enclose a money gift)
3. "Scientists have discovered a strong correlation between how late a birthday card is and the quality of the relationship between the sender and receiver. I guess that means I am really saying that we have a great relationship."
4. "I’m so sorry I didn’t have your birthday card to you on time. No one knows how long we have to give each other birthday cards, especially when we get to be at your age."
5. "Two things that I always get finished on time include: Sending people birthday cards and writing a great birthday wish in the…"
6. "I’m sorry I missed getting you a card for your birthday a few days ago. Hopefully, with this card being almost 12 months early for next year, it will make up for me missing a year."
7. "If my birthday card is the latest, then that also makes it the youngest birthday card. I wanted to do that to symbolically represent your age with my birthday card."
8. "Yes! I got to be the last one to wish you a happy birthday."
9. "Did your birthday change? I could swear it was today last year."
10. "I wanted to wish you a happy birthday in style. That’s why I’m fashionably late in telling you to have a great birthday."

1. Mom, no matter how old you get, you’ll always be an amazing mom
2. Mom, you give so much to others. Your life is a blessing in my life, and I appreciate all that you do for me.
3. If you turn the word ‘MOM’ upside down, you get ‘WOW!’ You are such an amazing person, and that’s all I can think to say about you, “Wow!” Happy Birthday to an awesome Mom!
4. Each birthday that passes is another year that I am thankful to have you in my life. Happy Birthday!
5. Happy birthday! I’m wishing a great day to the person most responsible for my own birthday.

Here are more Birthday Messages for Mom

1. Dad, you used to say, “Just wait until you’re my age.” How am I supposed to catch up to your age if you keep having birthdays? I guess I’ll figure that out when I’m your age.
2. Have an awesome birthday doing all the things that you want to do today.
3. Happy Birthday to the coolest dad in the world!
4. There are a lot of people who are having birthdays every day, but you’re the only one who is important in my life. Happy birthday to a great dad!
5. Dad, I love that you were born a long time ago, and I love that I was born more recently with you as my dad. Happy Birthday!

Here are more Birthday Messages for Dad

1. You’ll always be the perfect age to be my brother/sister. Happy birthday!
2. Happy birthday to my biggest ally against our parents’ rules!
3. We may have had our times when we didn’t get along, but I am glad you were born, because having a brother/sister like you has made me a better person. Happy birthday!
4. Every time you have a birthday, it’s a reminder that I’m getting older too. My own birthdays already remind me enough of my aging.
5. Brothers/sisters are born to build character. Thanks for being born, so you could build my character.

Here are more sibling birthday messages.

Here are some more examples of what to write to specific people for their birthday:

• Birthday Messages for Wife/Girlfriend
• Birthday Messages for Your Husband/Boyfriend
• Birthday Wishes for a Friend

1. Your birthday is an affirmation and reminder that God has a special plan and purpose for your life.
2. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
3. God knew you before you were born, so He knows you the longest. Happy Birthday!
4. Happy 1st birthday! Your second birthday was when you were born into the kingdom of heaven.
5. I'm sending you warm wishes on your birthday to remind you that at least two people love you: me and Jesus.

Here are some examples of what to write in an 18th birthday card. Use these when someone is becoming an adult.

1. I am glad that you are finally 18, so you can be a mature adult now. You can pay your own bills, vote, etc. The important thing is that you have fun with your new privileges. Happy birthday.

2. Happy 18th birthday. You're an adult now. That's your last developmental stage. Congratulations on surviving this far.

3. Finally people will take you as a serious mature adult now that you're 18. Happy birthday.

4. You can vote, smoke, gamble, sign up for the armed forces, and get a credit card. And you thought adolescents were dangerous. Happy birthday.

Here are some examples of what to write in a 21st birthday card. 21 is a great age to send a funny message or an inspiring wise message.

1. "You're 21 now, so you can drink. Just think in 14 years you can become president of the United States. Just because you can do something doesn't mean it's a good idea to try. Happy Birthday."

2. "Twenty one is a super important milestone birthday event. It means you have less than 80 years to hit 100. Then you can start drinking. Happy Birthday."

3. "I don't know what all the fuss is about turning 21. By 21 you should realize that birthdays just mean more responsibility. So remember to be more responsible. Happy Birthday."

Many more 21st Birthday Messages

When someone is having a milestone birthday such as 18, 21, or 30, you can use these resources to help you figure out what to write to match the person's new age.

• 16th Birthday
• 30th Birthday
• 40th Birthday
• 50th Birthday
• 60th Birthday

These are some famous and funny quotes that you can use for your birthday card. The actual quotes are in quotations, and other parts have been added to make it a better or funnier birthday message. You can use the quote by itself if you'd like.

1. Michael Pritchard said, “You don’t stop laughing because you are old; you grow old because you stop laughing.” I hope you have tons of laughs on your birthday!
2. Job 12:12 in the Bible says, “With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.” Congratulations on a little more wisdom and understanding today.
3. Sue Banducci said, “Old age comes at a bad time.” Maybe that’s why it’s such a good time to have a party and eat cake.
4. Tammy Mein said, “After a certain age, if you don’t wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead.” Did you wake up with achy joints this morning?
5. George Burns said, “You know you’re getting old when you stoop down to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.” It’s good to be old enough to know how to be efficient. Happy Birthday!
6. George Burns said, “When I was young, the Dead Sea was still alive.” I hope you live as long as he did.
7. On his 85^th birthday, Bernard Beruch said, “To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.” That means 100 years old for him. I’ll let you do the math for yourself.

You will likely need more card messages in the future for various special occasions. Use the links below to find more card message examples, and bookmark this hub to help you in the future.

Greeting Card Messages

Make your birthday card message unique and personal. Inside jokes are the best for birthday cards because birthdays are almost always an o.k. time to joke. When you make it personal you let the person know that you have thought about them and what to write. Birthday celebrations are a time to look over the importance of someones life and thank them for being a great person or a pain in the butt, whichever is applicable. Write your own birthday message if you can and celebrate life in a personal way.

Feel free to add your own special birthday wishes in the comment section below.