A cross says it out loud, a fish says it quietly, an angel says it even to people who don't go to church. That's the short answer to the question we're asked most often about Christian jewellery: Isn't that too much? The answer depends on which symbol you choose. This page explains the three symbols that are engraved and worn most often in our shop, what they originally meant, what people see in them today, and who each one suits.
For context: the angel, the Jesus fish and the cross are the second most frequently chosen symbols across our entire range, after the heart. Most of them are given as gifts for a christening, First Holy Communion or confirmation. The occasions themselves have their own guides; here, the focus is on the symbols.
The cross
The oldest and most explicit symbol. Anyone who wears a cross is saying something about themselves, and with this symbol, that is precisely the point. As a gift, it works wherever faith is a given in the family: for First Holy Communion, for Protestant or Catholic confirmation, and for people who specifically want a cross.
Size determines how explicit it is. A mini cross a few millimetres across, on a fine chain, is understated; a cross pendant on a curb chain is a statement. We offer both, and there is almost always room on the back for a name or a date.
What gets engraved on it: the child's name and the Communion date, or just the initial. There's no need for a symbol next to the cross: the cross is the symbol.
The Jesus fish, or Ichthys
Two arcs that form a fish. In the early centuries, the symbol was a secret sign of recognition among Christians; the Greek letters of the word for fish stand for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. It is precisely this origin that makes it the quiet symbol today: if you know it, you understand it; if you don't, you see a fish.
That's why the Ichthys is the choice for families who don't want to make a show of their faith, and for children who prefer a fish to a cross. For Communion, it is now almost as common as the cross.
What gets engraved on it: on bracelets, the name next to the fish, Anna and the symbol beside it. On discs, the name at the top and the fish below.
The guardian angel
The angel is the symbol with the widest reach. It is Christian, but not exclusively. Even families who don't go to church give a guardian angel to mark a birth or a christening, because the message works without explanation: someone is watching over you. In our shop, the angel is the most common symbol on christening and children's jewellery, and it is combined with the child's birthstone.
What gets engraved on it: the child's name on the front, the christening date on the back. On the card that goes with it, the line our customers write most often: May your guardian angel be with you on every path you take.
How explicit should it be?
The three symbols can be sorted by volume. That helps if you're not sure where the family stands on faith:
| Level | Symbol | A good fit if |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet | Guardian angel, mini cross on the back | Faith is a private matter, or you don't know where the family stands |
| Medium | Ichthys, small cross on a fine chain | The family is churchgoing, but low-key about it |
| Explicit | Cross pendant, cross on the front | Communion, confirmation, a specific request |
Pieces with these symbols
Mini cross necklace
Ichthys bracelet
Guardian angel necklaceWhen a Christian symbol is the wrong choice
You don't know where the family stands. Then skip the cross pendant and go for a disc with a name and date. The christening is immortalised in the date anyway.
The child is a teenager. By confirmation age, a large cross often isn't worn any more. A mini cross, or the symbol on the back, has more staying power.
It's meant to be a lucky charm, not a sign of faith. Then go for a four-leaf clover, horseshoe or anchor, which are covered in a separate guide.
Several symbols on one piece. A cross and an angel together look cluttered. One symbol, one name, one date.
What goes on the card
For a piece with a cross, fish or angel, our customers most often write:
- May your guardian angel be with you on every path you take and watch over you.
- God's blessing on you, today and on every path you take.
- You are a wonderful gift. May God be with you always.
Frequently asked questions about Christian symbols
What does the Jesus fish mean?
The Greek letters of the word for fish, Ichthys, stand for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. Early Christians used the symbol as a sign of recognition. Today it is the quiet Christian symbol: if you know it, you understand it.
Is a guardian angel a Christian symbol?
Yes, but it is also understood outside the church. The message that someone is watching over you works without explanation. That is why the angel is the most common symbol on christening and children's jewellery.
Cross or fish for First Holy Communion?
Both are common. The cross is more explicit, the fish quieter and often more popular with children. If you're unsure, go for the fish or a mini cross.
What do you engrave on a cross?
Usually the name and the date of the Communion or christening on the back, or just the initial. There's no need for a second symbol.
Is Christian jewellery suitable for adults too?
Yes. Mini cross necklaces and necklaces with a cross on the back are worn by adults, often with a date that reminds them of someone.
Can I combine the symbol with a birthstone?
Yes. We offer the angel and the cross with the child's birthstone in a heart shape; the stone is added in the colour of the birth month.
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