Writing a birthday card for most people is a straightforward task. You can just say something along the lines of, “Many happy returns!” or “Happy birthday! Have a great day.”
However, when it comes to your girlfriend, the question of what to write becomes more complicated.
She’ll be excited to read her card and will probably be disappointed if you’ve only written one or two words.
When it comes to writing a partner’s birthday card, it’s all about knowing what they want.
If your girlfriend is the romantic type, make sure you take the time to write her a sincere and loving message.
Alternatively, if your relationship is based around banter, your girlfriend might appreciate a funny card that makes her laugh out loud.
Or, if you’re in a new relationship, you may want to write a message that is caring enough without being presumptuous.
Only you know the ins and outs of your relationship, which means only you’ll know what kind of message is appropriate.
Whatever that is, there’s sure to be a fitting note in this comprehensive list of sample birthday card inscriptions for a girlfriend.
38 fantastic messages to write in a birthday card for a girlfriend
- I’ll never forget the first time I looked into your beautiful eyes. I hope I can make them shine extra bright today by giving you the birthday of a lifetime.
- I love you more with every day that goes by. Given how many of your birthdays we’ve celebrated together, you can rest assured that I love you one heck of a lot.
- Happy 30th birthday, my date for life. Get ready for the best birthday dinner you’ve ever had.
- Happy birthday to the love of my life and my best friend.
- Happy birthday! You are my world and I’ll never stop feeling lucky that I get to call myself your boyfriend.
- Happy birthday! Thank you for showing me what true love feels like.
- To the stunning birthday girl: Your smile lights up every room you enter, and I just happen to be fortunate enough to be in a lot of those rooms.
- Happy birthday to my favorite girl on earth.
- Happy birthday, pretty lady. Thanks for gracing my arm with your presence every so often. I pinch myself whenever I look at you and I couldn’t be prouder to call you my girlfriend.
- Happy birthday wifey, I don’t think I could possibly love you more. And believe me, I try every day.
- This is just a little note to say happy birthday and remind you that I adore everything about you.
- Happy birthday to my rock. Thanks for always being there for me, through thick and thin.
- I genuinely thank God every day that you were born…and today feels like a good day to let you know that. Happy birthday!
- Happy birthday! They say you get wiser with age, but I can’t imagine you getting any more insightful than you already are. Your loving advice has helped me more than you’ll ever know.
- No matter how old we get, I’ll never need anything more than to wrap you up in my arms. Happy birthday, my dear.
- My appreciation for your big heart and brilliant sense of humor grows with every passing year.
- Happy birthday. There are no words to express how fundamentally you have changed my life.
- Happy birthday, you quirky, fun-loving soul. You are the kindest, most genuine person I have ever met, and I will never not be obsessed with you.
- I hope you have the best birthday ever. God knows you deserve it for putting up with me!
- Happy birthday to my beautiful, intelligent girlfriend. From the bottom of my heart, I am so endlessly grateful that I get to call you mine.
- Happy birthday! Through all our ups and downs, just know that I love you more than I could ever express.
- Since it’s your birthday today…you’re the boss. I am at your beck and call. Please be kind…
- It’s your birthday, so we won’t mention that fight we had yesterday…just kidding. You know we’ll always be solid.
- Enjoy this excuse to eat cake…for once, I swear, I won’t steal the food off your plate.
- Happy birthday darling. Apparently, the more birthdays you have, the longer you live, so well done on notching another one!
- Ah, I love the part of the year when you are two years older than me. It makes me feel like I was cool enough to catch a real cougar.
- Happy birthday! Remind me to call your parents and thank them for the genetic marvel they created.
- Happy birthday my darling. I didn’t get you a gift because you have me, and what more could you want?
- I can’t wait to spoil…your birthday! No, sorry, you…I can’t wait to spoil you.
- Given that you keep having birthdays, I can tell that you’re really dedicated to this getting older and wiser thing. Just please don’t get too wise and realize you’re waaay out of my league.
- Happy belated birthday dear…if you’re still talking to me, that is…
- Happy birthday! I’ve had such a nice time getting to know you and I’m really excited to see what the future holds.
- Happy birthday, beautiful! I’ve never felt this way before, and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
- The last few months have been the happiest I can remember for a long time. And that’s all down to you. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
- I hope your birthday is as lovely as you are!
- Happy birthday! I’m so glad you’ve agreed to be my girlfriend and I can’t wait to be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.
- Happy birthday! I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how important this relationship is to me. Know that you can always depend on me.
- To the girl who is always taking care of everyone else, happy birthday! Please let me take care of you today.
Romantic things to write in a birthday card for your girlfriend
Most people would like the message they receive from their partner on their birthday to express love and affection.
But just because a message is romantic doesn’t mean it has to be cheesy. In fact, it’s much better if it isn’t!
The most important thing is that it captures your voice and sounds genuine.
Think about it…your girlfriend knows you very, very well.
If you send her a generic birthday card that sounds nothing like how you usually communicate with her, she may not think you are being authentic.
When you put pen to paper, ask yourself what you really want to say to her.
If you’re drawing a total blank, see if one of these sample texts captures how you feel.
1. I’ll never forget the first time I looked into your beautiful eyes. I hope I can make them shine extra bright today by giving you the birthday of a lifetime.
This sweet birthday message is perfect if you regularly comment on how incredible your girlfriend’s eyes are.
Saying you’d like to make them shine extra bright is a beautiful sentiment.
Promising your girlfriend that you are going to show her the birthday of a lifetime is also a lovely thing to do.
The only thing is that if you say this, you have to make sure that you can deliver.
Setting high expectations can be dangerous, so have plans in place to back up your words.
2. I love you more with every day that goes by. Given how many of your birthdays we’ve celebrated together, you can rest assured that I love you one heck of a lot.
This is a cute way to tie together the sweet saying, “I love you more every day” with the fact that a birthday is a literal representation of time passing.
It also references the amount of time you’ve been together.
By mentioning the level of your love, the stability of your relationship, and the significance of your girlfriend’s birthday, you’re hitting three birds with one stone.
Could this be the perfect romantic birthday message? Try it and see.
3. Happy 30th birthday, my date for life. Get ready for the best birthday dinner you’ve ever had.
If your girlfriend is celebrating a milestone birthday, whether that’s 21, 30, or 50, make sure you reference what a big deal it is.
A person only turns 30 once, so choosing good things to write in a 30th birthday card can feel like a lot of pressure.
Don’t let important numbers phase you though. Instead, just focus on saying what’s in your heart.
4. Happy birthday to the love of my life and my best friend.
Have you you’ve sat down regularly in recent years and chosen what to write in an anniversary card for friends?
If so, you’re at that age when you realize that what makes couples stick together through the good times and the bad is genuine friendship.
After all, how can you have a happy life with a person you don’t really like?
For this reason, there are few things as romantic as telling your girlfriend she is your best friend.
At the end of the day, if you find someone that you’re attracted to, respect, and really enjoy spending time with, you’ve won the relationship lottery.
5. Happy birthday! You are my world and I’ll never stop feeling lucky that I get to call myself your boyfriend.
This card is all about expressing how deeply you care for your girlfriend.
If you genuinely wake up thanking your lucky stars that you are lying beside such a wonderful person, there is no time like the present to tell her how much you care.
Do you hope you’ll be tackling life’s challenges together forever, including everything from writing thank you cards for a baby shower to deciding paint colors for your future bedroom?
If so, expressing how grateful you are to be with her is a great way to let her know how seriously you take the relationship without having to spell out your future plans.
6. Happy birthday! Thank you for showing me what true love feels like.
If your girlfriend has shown you a side to life that you had never experienced before, you can thank her for showing you what true love is.
Everyone who has ever been in love has experienced something unique because no two love stories are alike.
That said, most people feel that one of their loves surpasses the rest.
If you are more in love with your girlfriend than you have ever been with anyone else, you can send her this loving message on her birthday to acknowledge how special your bond is.
7. To the stunning birthday girl: Your smile lights up every room you enter, and I just happen to be fortunate enough to be in a lot of those rooms.
Girls generally enjoy responding to “you are beautiful.”
I mean, who doesn’t like hearing that someone likes looking at them, right?
This card is an original way to compliment your girlfriend’s appearance.
By saying that you feel lucky to be in many of the rooms she lights up, you’re telling her that you are proud of her and that you are totally committed to your relationship.
8. Happy birthday to my favorite girl on earth.
Romantic doesn’t have to mean long-winded.
Some people have a way with words and enjoy writing letters. Others really don’t.
Don’t like having to come up with things to write on a postcard when you’re on vacation and would always rather send a voice note than an email? If so, this is the message for you.
If you’re a man of few words, you don’t have to wax lyrical about your love.
Your girlfriend isn’t going to be counting the words in your card.
What will matter to her is how genuinely she feels like you mean them.
A simple, strong statement can be just as powerful as a meandering series of sentences.
9. Happy birthday, pretty lady. Thanks for gracing my arm with your presence every so often. I pinch myself whenever I look at you and I couldn’t be prouder to call you my girlfriend.
This is a nice birthday message that tells your girlfriend you are proud of her.
Telling her she’s so beautiful that you have to pinch yourself to make sure you aren’t dreaming is a pretty great compliment.
10. Happy birthday wifey, I don’t think I could possibly love you more. And believe me, I try every day.
If the main point you’d like to get across is how dedicated you are to your girlfriend, you can tell her that, despite how hard you try, it isn’t possible for you to love her any more than you do.
Basically, you love her the maximum amount.
If that’s not romantic, what is? Calling her “wifey” is a great way to send the message that you take your relationship seriously and think she’s wife material.
The basic idea is that she’s not too far off having to decide what to write in bridesmaid thank you cards.
That said, even though it’s only a nickname, don’t call her wifey unless you can actually see yourself asking her to marry you at some point down the line; there is nothing crueler than creating false hope.
11. This is just a little note to say happy birthday and remind you that I adore everything about you.
Is your girlfriend the kind of person who gets embarrassed when people start singing happy birthday to her in public?
If so, you can act like your card is just a super casual thing.
By phrasing your birthday wish in minimalist terms, you’re allowing the love it conveys to stand out even more strongly on the page.
Sentimental things to write in a birthday card for your girlfriend
If you want to tell your girlfriend how much she means to you, but not in a sensitive love letter, these congratulatory wishes might be more up your alley.
What we consider romantic changes over the course of a relationship.
All that ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey, all-over-each other stuff tends to fade with time. But that doesn’t mean your love becomes less intense.
In fact, if anything, it grows stronger. As you get to know your girlfriend better, your love for her will become more and more about the person that she genuinely is.
The depth of your bond will increase as a result.
When her birthday comes around, you might feel the need to express your love for her in sincere terms.
Here are a few ways that kind of message might go.
12. Happy birthday to my rock. Thanks for always being there for me, through thick and thin.
Saying “Happy birthday to my rock” is a lovely way to wish your girlfriend well on her big day.
Not only are you establishing how solid your commitment to each other is, but you’re thanking her for being such a reliable partner.
Is she the kind of girl who always knows what to say to cheer someone up over text? Or who gives the best hugs at the end of a long day?
Whatever her way of being present looks like, you can capture all kinds of support with this note.
13. I genuinely thank God every day that you were born…and today feels like a good day to let you know that. Happy birthday!
This clever birthday note ties together the fact that you’re grateful she exists with the idea that her birthday is the day she literally came into existence.
She’ll be sure to get a chuckle out of this, even though it’s also a very moving message.
14. Happy birthday! They say you get wiser with age, but I can’t imagine you getting any more insightful than you already are. Your loving advice has helped me more than you’ll ever know.
The best part about finding your person is that you get to walk around knowing that there is always someone out there who cares about you deeply.
No matter what happens to you, if you needed support, you could always call them.
And the fact that your unconditional support system just happens to be really attractive, funny, and cool?
Well, that’s what we mean when we say we’ve found “the whole package,” right?
15. No matter how old we get, I’ll never need anything more than to wrap you up in my arms. Happy birthday, my dear.
The sweetest thing we can ever hear from someone who loves us is that we are all they need.
Being able to complete one another is a surefire sign of a relationship that will stand the test of time.
16. My appreciation for your big heart and brilliant sense of humor grows with every passing year.
Is your girlfriend a generous person who is always looking around for things she can do to help others? If so, you’re lucky.
Do you regularly get texts from her about things like what to write on a graduation cake because she’s organizing a party for someone or whether you have spare clothes to donate?
If so, that same care probably shows up in your relationship.
Maybe she chooses awesome things to write on a whiteboard in your home to make your mornings a little bit better.
Or maybe she just always intuits your mood and knows when to give you space and when not to.
Whatever it is that your girlfriend does, this message captures your genuine appreciation for her caring character.
17. Happy birthday. There are no words to express how fundamentally you have changed my life.
This birthday message pretty much speaks for itself. Telling a woman that she has changed your life completely is an incredibly sincere thing to do.
Only say this if you really, truly mean it.
18. Happy birthday, you quirky, fun-loving soul. You are the kindest, most genuine person I have ever met, and I will never not be obsessed with you.
If your girlfriend isn’t one to conform to society’s expectations, you can send her this card on her birthday.
Is she always wearing something that doesn’t quite fit the norm?
Does she love dancing and doesn’t care how dorky she looks when she’s throwing shapes? If so, you’ve found a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Tell her how much you appreciate all the things that set her apart from the crowd with this super cute message.
19. I hope you have the best birthday ever. God knows you deserve it for putting up with me!
If you’ve been a bit of a handful this year, acknowledge that being with you isn’t always easy with this birthday message.
This note is a little bit funny and a little bit serious. Sometimes humor helps us navigate our way out of difficult patches.
If you can laugh at yourself, you know you’re already most of the way to healing.
Things that have upset us suddenly seem much more manageable when we can view them in a funny light.
20. Happy birthday to my beautiful, intelligent girlfriend. From the bottom of my heart, I am so endlessly grateful that I get to call you mine.
This message contains a serious serving of sweetness. If you’re girlfriend enjoys being told how loved she is, this message will go down well.
Some people like sentimental things more than others.
For every person who likes coming up with cute messages to write on polaroid pictures there is someone who pretends to barf when they pass a “live, laugh, love” sign.
If the woman in your life falls squarely in the former category, she’ll lap this message right up.
21. Happy birthday! Through all our ups and downs, just know that I love you more than I could ever express.
Rough patches in relationships aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, learning to navigate tough times often sees couples emerge stronger than they were before.
Perhaps you had to learn what to say to someone who has lost a loved one because your girlfriend recently lost a family member.
Or maybe you’ve moved in together and have been dealing with mortgage stress.
Or maybe you have only been working out how to politely ask each other to do the dishes.
Whatever your difficulties have been, if the last year of your partner’s life has seen a lot of changes and readjustments, send her this card to cast a positive light on a hard year.
Funny messages for a birthday card for a girlfriend
No couple is just one thing. That said, there are certain couples who prefer to communicate in sincere language…and others who basically devolve into baby talk when they’re in each other’s presence.
If you and your girlfriend are the kind of twosome who struggle to be serious ever, you might have to work on that…but not today.
You girlfriend’s birthday is not the time to grow up and get all your adulting sorted.
Instead, it is a day to embrace the laughter and fun-loving mood that characterizes your time together.
Here are a few funny messages to write in your girlfriend’s birthday card.
22. Since it’s your birthday today…you’re the boss. I am at your beck and call. Please be kind…
Haven’t gotten your girlfriend a present? Why not offer to be her butler for the day instead?
If you two have a funny dynamic, she’ll surely enjoy making you her chauffeur/sugar daddy/masseuse/chef for a full twenty-four hours.
Be careful though…if your girlfriend is the funny type, you’ll probably be putting in some serious overtime.
23. It’s your birthday, so we won’t mention that fight we had yesterday…just kidding. You know we’ll always be solid.
Okay, so it’s your girlfriend’s birthday. But yesterday, the two of you couldn’t stop arguing.
You don’t feel like you can ignore the disagreement you had. What to do?
Use this funny message to acknowledge the elephant in the room while reassuring her that you’re not going anywhere.
24. Enjoy this excuse to eat cake…for once, I swear, I won’t steal the food off your plate.
If you’re the food thief of your relationship, don’t be embarrassed: every couple has one.
Use your reputation as a plate-vulture to make a funny joke about the fact that you won’t eat any of your girlfriend’s cake…just this once, that is.
25. Happy birthday darling. Apparently, the more birthdays you have, the longer you live, so well done on notching another one!
Whether you are actually a dad or just can’t resist a dad joke, this one is for you.
26. Ah, I love the part of the year when you are two years older than me. It makes me feel like I was cool enough to catch a real cougar.
We are always the same amount older or younger than anyone.
But in a couple, there is that awkward period of the year when it sounds to the outside world like the age gap between you is bigger than it is.
If your girlfriend is a little bit older than you and resents being reminded of it, use that fact to tease her with this funny birthday message.
27. Happy birthday! Remind me to call your parents and thank them for the genetic marvel they created.
This is funny for two reasons.
First of all, instead of properly congratulating your girlfriend, you’re giving her parents all the credit.
Second, it would be pretty inappropriate for you to thank you girlfriend’s dad for creating a genetic marvel.
The discomfort this idea creates makes for a good laugh.
28. Happy birthday my darling. I didn’t get you a gift because you have me, and what more could you want?
This message is only really funny if you follow it up with a “just kidding” and hand your girlfriend a present immediately after she’s read it.
However, if you do actually have a present for her, she’ll be sure to get a good laugh out of this card…once she’s calmed down, of course.
29. I can’t wait to spoil…your birthday! No, sorry, you…I can’t wait to spoil you.
This is the perfect birthday message for any girl who enjoys a good pun.
30. Given that you keep having birthdays, I can tell that you’re really dedicated to this getting older and wiser thing. Just please don’t get too wise and realize you’re waaay out of my league.
This self-deprecating play on the saying, “older and wiser” will give your girlfriend a good laugh.
31. Happy belated birthday dear…if you’re still talking to me, that is…
Whoops. You’ve forgotten your girlfriend’s birthday. Now what?
Well, you could chance making her smile with this funny card. If that doesn’t work…well, a heartfelt apology is probably your next best bet.
Perfect birthday card messages when you’re in a new relationship
Oh no. Is there anything more awkward than having to navigate the birthday of a girl you’ve just started dating?
She’s going to invite you to her party, right? And her parents will be there, right?
You might be feeling like you really weren’t ready for that stage yet.
And should you get her a present? You don’t want it to seem like you’re coming on too strong, right?
But she might think it’s rude if you don’t.
And if you do get her a present, should you write her a card too?
Or, better yet, maybe you could get her just a card. But does that make you look cheap?
Honestly, a new partner’s birthday is a veritable landmine.
This article can’t shake your new girlfriend’s father’s hand for you or answer the question, “What are your intentions with my daughter?”
But what it can do is help you write an inscription for the birthday card that you definitely should get her.
And hey, pro tip: Instead of getting her a present, tell her you’re going to take her out for birthday date at the restaurant of her choice next weekend.
See? That’s already two fewer problems…now relax and enjoy choosing the perfect thing to write in her card.
32. Happy birthday! I’ve had such a nice time getting to know you and I’m really excited to see what the future holds.
Most birthday messages refer to the past. As anyone who has ever chosen what to write in a scrapbook knows, sentimental messages are all about nostalgia.
If you don’t have much of a past with your girlfriend because you just met, you can look to the future instead.
33. Happy birthday, beautiful! I’ve never felt this way before, and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
The key to a great letter in the early stages of a relationship is to express how invested you are while keeping the future open.
Don’t presume anything too big, but make it clear that you are all-in.
That’s exactly what this note for a birthday card does.
34. The last few months have been the happiest I can remember for a long time. And that’s all down to you. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Thanking your new girlfriend for your newfound happiness is a super sweet thing to do when writing her birthday card.
35. I hope your birthday is as lovely as you are!
If you’re worried about writing the wrong thing in your new girlfriend’s birthday card, just say less. As we all know, less is often more.
This super sweet message will leave her in no doubt about your feelings for her.
36. Happy birthday! I’m so glad you’ve agreed to be my girlfriend and I can’t wait to be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.
This message is a little sappy, but hey, if you can’t be sappy when you’re newly in love, when can you be?
No one perfectly understands love and the brain, but we all know how a new love can send us into a totally different state.
If that’s where you are right now, enjoy it!
37. Happy birthday! I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how important this relationship is to me. Know that you can always depend on me.
If you’re only getting to know each other, but you’ve already supported each other through hard times, reinforce how much you want to be there for your new girlfriend with this loving note.
38. To the girl who is always taking care of everyone else, happy birthday! Please let me take care of you today.
Some people just have generous hearts.
They’ll forever be wondering what to write on a donation brick or how to make their friends feel better.
If your new girlfriend has a genuinely sweet soul, spoil her on her birthday, starting by writing this great message in her birthday card.