Every family already has a motto. It’s just usually unwritten. It might be “We don’t leave anyone out,” or “Try it once,” or the thing your grandmother said every time somebody complained: “Worse things happen at sea.” These phrases carry a family’s values from one generation to the next, often without anyone deciding they should.
Creating a family motto on purpose takes that natural process and makes it deliberate. A good motto gives children a short, memorable answer to the question “What kind of family are we?” — and it becomes part of the story they will one day tell about where they came from. This guide shares family motto examples and a simple process to create your own together.
What Makes a Good Family Motto?
- Short — ideally under ten words, so even young children can remember it
- True — it should describe who you are or genuinely want to be, not an aspirational slogan nobody believes
- Usable — something you can actually say in the moment: at the dinner table, in the car, after a bad day
- Yours — borrowed phrases are fine, but the best mottos often grow out of a family joke or story
Family Motto Examples
About kindness and loyalty
- “We look out for each other.”
- “Kind first, right second.”
- “Nobody sits alone.”
- “There’s always room at our table.”
About courage and effort
- “We do hard things.”
- “Try it before you say no.”
- “Brave, not perfect.”
- “Finish what you start.”
About resilience
- “We fall down, we get up.”
- “It’ll make a good story later.”
- “Mistakes mean we’re learning.”
About fun and curiosity
- “Always take the scenic route.”
- “Ask one more question.”
- “Life’s too short for boring sandwiches.”
Mottos with a story behind them
Some of the best family mottos come from a single moment. A family who got hopelessly lost on holiday and ended up at the best beach of their lives might adopt “Getting lost is half the fun.” A grandfather who used to say “Leave it better than you found it” about campsites might find his phrase living on in the next two generations. These story-born mottos carry family history inside them.
How to Create a Family Motto Together
Step 1: Hold a family meeting
Choose a relaxed time — after a meal, with pudding helps. Explain that you’re going to come up with a few words that describe your family at its best.
Step 2: Ask everyone the same questions
- What are we good at as a family?
- What do we care about most?
- What do we say a lot?
- When have we been proudest of each other?
- What would we want other people to say about our family?
Write every answer down without judging. Children’s answers are often the most honest.
Step 3: Look for the common thread
Circle words and ideas that come up more than once. Usually two or three themes emerge — kindness, adventure, hard work, humour, faith, togetherness.
Step 4: Draft several versions
Turn the themes into three or four short phrases. Read them aloud. Notice which one gets a smile or a nod.
Step 5: Test it for a month
Try using the favourite version in everyday life. Does it feel natural to say? Does it help in difficult moments? If it doesn’t stick, adjust it. A motto that’s never used is just a sign on the wall.
Family Mottos for Different Kinds of Families
Blended families
When two families come together, a new shared motto can help everyone feel part of something that belongs to all of them, not just one side. Involve every child in choosing it, and consider phrases that emphasise choice and welcome: “Different roads, one home” or “We chose each other.”
Families with teenagers
Teenagers may roll their eyes at the idea — so invite them to write it. A motto chosen by a fifteen-year-old, however sardonic, is far more likely to be used than one handed down. Humour is allowed. “We’re weird and that’s fine” is a perfectly good family motto.
Multi-generational households
If grandparents live with you, ask them what their own parents used to say. Old family sayings can be revived and given new life — and the process of asking is a family history interview in itself. Our guide to capturing family proverbs from parents and grandparents has prompts to help.
Couples without children
A household of two can have a motto too. Many couples find it helpful during big decisions or difficult years: “Us against the problem, not each other” is a popular one for good reason.
Making It Part of Family Life
- Write it somewhere visible — on the fridge, a chalkboard, a framed print by the door
- Use it as a gentle reminder in tough moments: “Remember — we do hard things”
- Revisit it every year or two; families change and the motto can grow with you
- Make it part of family rituals, such as a weekly time when each person shares one thing they learned or tried. 2createyourlife.com describes a weekly family show-and-tell that pairs beautifully with a motto about curiosity or effort.
Your Motto as Family History
Write down the story of how your motto was chosen: the date, who suggested which words, the versions you rejected, and why the final one won. Add it to your family archive. Decades from now, your grandchildren will find it far more meaningful to know why you chose “Nobody sits alone” than simply to see it painted on a sign.
If your family’s motto points to deeper values you’d like to pass on, our guides to writing a personal values statement and writing an ethical will show how to expand those few words into a fuller legacy.
What About Latin Mottos and Family Crests?
Many people search for family mottos in Latin because historical coats of arms often carried them. You are welcome to translate your own motto into Latin for fun — but be careful with online translators, which often produce grammatically shaky results; a Latin teacher or a reputable reference is worth consulting. Also note that historic coats of arms and their mottos usually belonged to specific individuals and their direct descendants, not to everyone who shares a surname.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a family motto?
A family motto is a short phrase that sums up a family’s values or spirit — such as “We look out for each other” or “We do hard things.” It gives family members, especially children, a simple shared reminder of who they are and how they want to treat each other.
How do you come up with a family motto?
Hold a relaxed family meeting, ask everyone what the family values and what it does well, look for common themes, draft a few short phrases, and test your favourite in daily life for a month before settling on it.
How long should a family motto be?
Short enough for a young child to remember — usually between three and ten words. The best mottos can be said quickly in the middle of everyday life.
Do children really benefit from a family motto?
Many families find that a motto gives children a sense of belonging and a simple way to understand family expectations. It works best when the motto is genuinely used and reflects how the family actually behaves.
Can a family motto change over time?
Yes. Families grow and change, and a motto can be updated. Keeping a record of earlier mottos and why they changed creates a small but meaningful piece of family history.