Names matter. Especially when they’re your own. If you grew up in the nineties or early two-thousands, you probably spent hours in the back of a notebook perfecting the way you wrote your name. For anyone named Emily, those five letters offer a specific kind of architectural challenge. The "E" provides a sturdy base, the "m" adds rhythmic humps, and the "i," "l," and "y" create a descending staircase of curves. Writing emily in bubble letters isn't just a nostalgic throwback; it's a foundational exercise in typography and personal expression that persists in bullet journals and street art today.
The Anatomy of the Perfect Bubble Letter E
Let's get real about the letter "E." It’s a beast. In standard block lettering, it’s all hard angles and stiff lines. But when you’re leaning into that rounded, puffy aesthetic, the "E" becomes the anchor of the whole word. You have to decide if you want a capital "E" with three distinct lobes or a lowercase "e" that looks like a coiled cinnamon roll. Most people go for the lowercase version because it flows better into the "m."
It’s about volume. Think of each letter as a balloon being inflated from the inside. If you blow too much air into the "e," the middle hole—the eye—disappears. That’s the rookie mistake. You want enough negative space so people can actually read it, but enough puffiness that it looks like it could float off the page.
Why the Name Emily Works So Well for This Style
Some names are just hard to draw. Try doing a name with a lot of "X"s or "Z"s in bubble format and you’ll see what I mean. Emily is different. It’s balanced. The "m" is the centerpiece. Honestly, a bubble "m" is the most satisfying thing to draw because of that repetitive motion. It feels like drawing hills. Then you have the "i" and "l," which act as vertical pillars. They give the word height.
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Then there is the "y." The "y" is where you get to show off. Does the tail loop back under the rest of the name? Does it end in a sharp point or a rounded nub? For most artists, the "y" in emily in bubble letters serves as a decorative underline. It frames the word. It makes it feel like a finished logo rather than just a name scribbled in a margin.
The Physics of "The Squish"
Typography experts often talk about "kerning," which is just a fancy way of saying the space between letters. In bubble lettering, we ignore traditional kerning. We want "the squish." The letters should overlap. The right side of the "E" should tuck behind the first hump of the "m." This creates a sense of depth. It turns a flat name into a 3D object. When you shade the bottom edges—maybe with a darker purple or a light grey—you’re basically doing basic physics. You’re telling the eye where the light is coming from.
Getting the Tools Right
You can’t just use any pen. Well, you can, but a ballpoint is going to leave you frustrated. If you’re serious about making emily in bubble letters look like something out of a professional portfolio, you need felt tips.
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- Chisel Tip Markers: These are the kings of the outline. They allow for varying line thickness.
- Alcohol-Based Markers: Think brands like Copic or Ohuhu. These allow for that smooth, gradient blending that makes bubble letters look like shiny plastic.
- White Gel Pens: This is the "pro secret." Adding a tiny white "highlight" or "glint" on the top left curve of every letter makes them look wet or reflective. It’s a simple trick that changes everything.
From Notebooks to Digital Art
It’s not just for kids anymore. We’re seeing a massive resurgence of "soft" typography in graphic design. Take a look at the branding for "Y2K" revivalist clothing lines or even modern toy packaging. The rounded, friendly nature of bubble letters is being used to combat the cold, sterile minimalism of the last decade.
People are taking the name Emily and turning it into digital stickers for Instagram Stories or custom Twitch overlays. The process has changed—now we use Procreate on an iPad with a "streamline" setting that smooths out our shaky hands—but the core appeal remains the same. It’s approachable. It’s fun. It’s the opposite of a corporate sans-serif font like Helvetica.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inconsistent Height: If your "E" is huge and your "y" is tiny, the word will look like it’s falling over. Use a faint pencil guideline.
- Neglecting the "Holes": In the "e" and "m" and "l," the little gaps of white space are just as important as the ink. If they’re inconsistent, the name looks messy.
- Over-shading: Keep your light source on one side. If you shade both the left and right sides of a letter, you lose the 3D effect. Pick a side and stick to it.
The Cultural Longevity of the Bubble Style
Graffiti culture in the 1970s and 80s gave us the "throw-up" style. Artists like Phase 2 in New York City pioneered these rounded, quick-to-paint letters because they were fast and visible. That DNA is still present when someone writes emily in bubble letters on a birthday card. It carries a sense of "street" history, even if it’s being done with a pink highlighter in a suburban bedroom.
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There’s a psychological comfort to round shapes. Neuroaesthetics suggests that humans generally prefer curved lines over sharp ones because they feel safer and more organic. When you write a name like Emily—which is already phonetically soft—in a bubble style, you are doubling down on that feeling of warmth and friendliness.
Step-by-Step Action Plan for Perfect Bubble Letters
To master the name Emily in this style, start by writing the name in very light pencil using simple "stick" letters. This ensures your spacing is correct before you commit to the bulk. Next, draw a "skin" or a "bubble" around those stick lines. Imagine you are putting a puffy coat on each letter.
Once the outline is done, erase the skeleton lines in the middle. Now you have a hollow name. Use a bold black marker for the outer edge, but keep the lines continuous. Don’t "feather" the strokes; go for long, confident sweeps. Finally, add your color. Start with a light base and add a slightly darker shade only at the very bottom of each letter. Add a white dot for a highlight, and you’ve moved from a doodle to a piece of art.
Practice the "m" specifically. It’s the heart of the name. If the two humps of the "m" aren't identical in width, the whole word will feel off-balance. Try drawing it as two overlapping circles first, then cutting off the bottoms. It takes a bit of repetition, but once you find the rhythm, it becomes second nature.