Personalised Secret Santa gifts: put their name on it

A personalised Secret Santa gift does something a generic one cannot: it makes the whole room know who it is for before the paper is even off. That is why named gifts get the biggest reaction at the swap and the longest life afterwards. Nobody passes on a present with their own name printed on it. This guide covers the best personalised picks under £20, how to choose the right joke, and how to write your own label when nothing on the shelf quite fits.

Why are personalised Secret Santa gifts better?

A name shows effort, even on a small budget. Secret Santa is often a draw of people who do not know each other well, and a generic gift can feel like it was bought for anyone. Put the person’s name on it and the gift becomes clearly theirs. It also helps the joke land: “Lou’s Brave Juice” is funnier than “Brave Juice”, because the room instantly connects the label to the person holding it.

Personalised gifts also last longer. Novelty items tend to be gone by February. A vial with someone’s name on a serious lab label goes on the desk, the shelf or the windowsill, and stays there.

How does a personalised vial work?

You choose the vial, type the name on the product page and see a preview of the finished label before you order. The label is printed with that name and the vial is posted to you. You do not need any design skills. If you want to change the whole label rather than just the name, use the builder instead, which lets you write the “condition” and choose the layout.

Keep names short where you can. A first name or nickname reads best on a small label and gets the quickest laugh. Personalised novelty vials. Display only, not for use.

A friend about to do something brave

Lou's Brave Juice

£17.95

For the friend starting a new job, moving abroad or finally booking the skydive. Swap Lou for their name.

Personalise it Design your own

What is a good personalised gift for a big day?

Pick something encouraging. If the person you drew has an interview, a driving test, exams or a big presentation coming up in the new year, a Confidence Booster with their name on it is both funny and kind. It is the sort of gift people keep in view on the day itself, which makes it more than a joke.

A big day coming up

Leslie's Confidence Booster

£17.95

For the friend facing an interview, an exam or a speech. Their name on it, a little cheer on their desk.

Personalise it Design your own

What do you buy the friend who says yes to everything?

A vial of Liquid Backbone. Every office and friendship group has someone who volunteers for every rota, covers every shift and never says no. A gift that gently points at it is a warm way of saying “we see you doing all this”. Most people pleasers laugh hardest at this one because they know it is true.

The yes-to-everything friend

Mel's Liquid Backbone

£17.95

For the person who has never turned down a favour. Swap Mel for their name and they may finally say no to something.

Personalise it Design your own

What do you buy someone who has just moved out or started a job?

The Adulting Serum is made for big life firsts: a first flat, a first full-time job, a first set of bills. It suits younger colleagues and friends who are working out how to organise a household, and it is a fun gift for parents to slip in alongside something practical.

A first flat or first job

Jamie's Adulting Serum

£17.95

For the friend still learning which bin goes out on which day. A name on the label makes it a keepsake.

Personalise it Design your own

The impulsive friend

Elliot's Emergency Common Sense

£17.95

For the one whose plans always need a plan B. Swap Elliot for their name.

Personalise it Design your own

How do you write your own personalised label?

Use the Custom Prescription Vial when none of the ready-made jokes fit. You write the name, the “condition” and choose the layout, so a running joke from the team chat, a famous moment from a holiday or a nickname only your group understands can become a real label. It costs £18.95 and still fits most Secret Santa budgets under £20.

A few tips for writing a label that lands:

• Keep it short. Two to four words for the condition reads best.
• Make it about a habit. “Chronic Late Arrival” is funnier than a long story.
• Keep it kind. Avoid looks, weight, age and money, as with any group gift.
• Check spelling. Preview the label before ordering, especially the name.

Your own in-joke

Custom Prescription Vial

£18.95

Write the whole label yourself: their name, their condition, your layout. For the joke only your group would get.

Shop it Design your own

Is a personalised gift OK for someone you do not know well?

Yes. A name works even when you know nothing else about the person, because it shows you put in a little effort. Pair it with a general joke, such as a big day, a brave move or Mondays, and you cannot go far wrong. Just make sure you spell their name correctly. Check the staff directory, their email signature or a group chat before you order.

Which name should you put on the label?

Use the name the group calls them. If everyone at work says “Jen”, do not print “Jennifer”. If a colleague has a well-known nickname, it can be funnier than their real name, but only use it if you are sure they like it. Some nicknames are fine in the office and less fine printed on a gift that stays on a desk for a year.

First names work best on a small label. Surnames can feel formal, and full names often get too long. If two people in the group share a first name, add an initial so the room knows exactly who the gift is for.

How do you keep a personalised gift anonymous?

A name on the label does not give you away. Everyone in the draw knows the recipient’s name, so it is no clue at all to who bought it. Leave the tag unsigned, have it delivered to yourself rather than to the office, and wrap it like any other gift. The only giveaway is a joke only you would make, so if you write your own label, choose something the whole group would recognise.

Can you order personalised gifts for a whole team?

Yes. Some offices skip the draw and give everyone a small gift instead. Ordering one vial per person, each with its own name, is a simple way to do that. Mix the jokes to suit each person, or give everyone the same design with a different name so the set looks good lined up on the desks. Order early if you are buying several, because each one is printed with its own name.

A named set also works as a thank you from a manager to the team at the end of a busy year. It costs less than a team meal, every person gets something with their own name on it, and the vials stay on the desks long after the party has been forgotten.

When should you order a personalised Secret Santa gift?

Order as soon as the draw is done. Personalised gifts are printed after you order and then posted, so they need more time than something off the shelf. The last safe order dates for UK delivery are shown on the site and at checkout. Leave extra time if your swap is early in December or if you are posting the gift on to someone working remotely.

Personalised gifts by budget

All of our named vials sit under £20, so they fit the most common Secret Santa limits. Standard vials are £14.95 and can still carry a name. Ready-named personalised vials are £17.95. A fully custom label you write yourself is £18.95. If your group’s limit is £15, choose from the standard range and add the name. If it is £20, any option in this guide works.

Questions people ask