The #1 Mistake People Make When Choosing a Graffiti Name
If you’re new to graffiti, you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect tag name. Many beginners overanalyze letter combinations, avoiding certain letters because they seem "hard to flow" and favoring others that seem easier. You might hear writers say they don’t want "insert letter here" in their names because they “can’t find out how to add style to it”. In reality, every name can flow, and every letter combination can work—as long as you understand graffiti fundamentals. In this post, we’ll break down common misconceptions about graffiti tag names, discuss letter groupings, and explain how to approach your name with confidence.
Why Every Name Works in Graffiti
No matter the name, no matter the letters, even made-up letters from fictional alphabets, can all easily flow, they can easily use any of graffiti’s basics. At its core, a structure of any kind is really just a mart, a series of lines and lines aren’t too technical. When looking at letters typed on a screen much like the ones you’re reading now, or when looking at letters written in print you’ll find that they always flow, they all weigh out properly, their negative space is consistent and controlled, and their structure is well defined. This tells us that in their absolute simplest form, all structures function with any other structures.
If you think your tag name is too difficult, it’s likely because:
You haven’t developed your letter structure yet.
You’re adding too much style (The most common issue by far).
You’re unaware of mistakes in your letter.
New writers often abandon their original names because they struggle with certain letters. But switching names won’t make you better—it just hides your lack of experience. The only way to improve is by practicing the basics and sticking with your name long enough to learn how to use it. The last thing we want to do is to stop using a name we love just because we notice we have room for improvement, and instead switch to a name we don’t like as much because we wrongfully think it’s easier.
Letter Groupings: A System for Structuring Your Graffiti
If you're struggling to make your tag flow, letter groupings can help. This method involves breaking your graffiti name into manageable sections to analyze and improve individual letter interactions.
For example, let’s say your tag is GRIM:
You can divide it as G-R / I-M (two pairs).
Or split it as G / R-I / M (one letter on the left, two in the middle, one on the right).
Each section influences how the entire name flows. If your "IM" section feels too heavy, you can balance it by adjusting the size or spacing of the other letters.
How Letter Groupings Improve Your Style
Weight Distribution – If one part of your tag looks too bulky, groupings help pinpoint where the imbalance is.
Flow Enhancement – You can see where your groupings might have lost flow from one letter to the next.
Negative Space – Groupings can easily let you see what side of your name has more or less space.
Structure – Sometimes structure is the issue, and groupings can let you identify how a mistake or stylistic change to structure has effected the other fundamentals. This information can help you make more educated changes to your letters.
Position – When used with a lettering chart, groupings can show you how your letters position might have influenced other basics. Not only that, groupings will also show you how the positioning of one group compares to another, and how these positions have influenced the basics.
Style Evolution – If you feel stuck creatively, changing how you group letters can help you break old habits.
This method applies to handstyles, throwies, and pieces, making it a valuable tool for all graffiti artists.
Give Your Graffiti Name Time to Develop
If you’re feeling frustrated with your graffiti progress, remember: learning takes time. Many graffiti writers struggle for years before developing solid letter structure and style. Your name will evolve as you gain experience, so don’t rush to change it just because certain letters seem difficult.
What’s Your Graffiti Name?
Drop your graffiti tag name in the comments! If you're struggling with specific letters, let us know—our graffiti community might have some helpful tips for you.
