130+ Simple Birthday Wishes to Celebrate a Special Person

If someone you know has a birthday coming up, sometimes a simple (but sincere!) message is the way to go. It’s a great way to let them know you care, whether you’re writing a quick card, sending a birthday text, or even captioning a social media post in their honor. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of simple birthday wishes for you to use, including heartfelt, funny, and inspirational options. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

The Best Simple Birthday Wishes

“Happy birthday! Hope you have the best day ever.”
“Happiest of birthdays to a wonderful person.”
“May your birthday be full of love, laughter, and joy.”
“Wishing you a wonderful birthday. Time to celebrate!”
“It’s your special day! Hope all your birthday wishes come true.”
“Happy birthday! Thankful for you today and everyday.”

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Short & Sweet Birthday Wishes for Anyone

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Brighten their day with a simple (but heartfelt) birthday message. A birthday message doesn’t always need to be long and elaborate—as long as your words are from the heart, a short message can absolutely bring joy to a special person in your life! Brief wishes are perfect if you’re sending a text before celebrating with them later, captioning a birthday post on Instagram or TikTok, or writing a short note in a card. Here are some options to inspire you:
- “Happy birthday to an incredible person! Hope all your wishes come true.”
- “You deserve all the love in the world on your special day. Happy birthday!”
- “Cheers to another trip around the sun! Hope this is your best birthday yet.”
- “I’m so lucky to know someone as special as you. Happy birthday!”
- “Wishing you the happiest of birthdays! Hope you have a fantastic day.”
- “Here’s to you on your special day! Sending you lots of love and hugs.”
- “May this year bring you happiness, love, and success. Happy birthday!”
- “Happiest of birthdays to a lovely person! Hope you have an amazing day.”
- “Wishing you a birthday full of love, laughter, and of course, birthday cake!”
- “You deserve to be celebrated, today and everyday. Happy birthday!”
- “Sending you celebratory vibes! Hope your birthday is as amazing as you are.”
- “Happy birthday to a truly special person. Can’t wait to celebrate you today!”
- “May this year bring you health, joy, and lots of adventures. Happy Birthday!”
- “Cheers to you on your birthday! Hope you have the best day ever.”
- “Thinking of you on your special day. Hope it’s filled with love and celebration!”
- “I hope you have an amazing birthday! No one deserves it more than you.”

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Inspirational Birthday Wishes

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Uplift and motivate them with an inspirational birthday message. For many people, a birthday is a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year to come. If you want to add to these thoughtful vibes and get them pumped for the future, consider writing an inspirational birthday message. Here are some examples you can use:
- “Happy birthday! May this day mark the beginning of a truly incredible year.”
- “Happy birthday to an incredibly hardworking, humble, and inspiring person.”
- “Another year older and wiser! Can’t wait to see what this year brings you.”
- "Happiest of birthdays to the person who never ceases to inspire me."
- “Every birthday is a fresh start, and this year I’m extra excited to see what this new chapter holds for you.”
- “Happy birthday to an amazing person! I’m in awe of everything you’ve achieved this year, and I know the best is yet to come.”
- “Wishing you a very happy birthday! I hope all your wildest dreams come true this year and beyond.”
- “Happy birthday! I feel so lucky to be on this journey of life with you, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
- “What a joy it is to know someone so hardworking and talented. I know you’ll achieve amazing things this year!”
- “It’s been incredible to witness your journey this year, and I know your next chapter will bring even more adventures. Happy birthday!”
- “On this special day, I’m thinking about all the hard work and determination you’ve shown over the past year. I’m completely in awe of you!”
- “Happy birthday to a true inspiration. You bring passion and perseverance to everything you do, and I feel so thankful to know you.”
- “Happy birthday! Today, we celebrate the incredible person you are and the amazing things you’ve achieved. Have an amazing day—you deserve it!”
- “This birthday, I wish you all the happiness and love in the world. You are such a special person, and you deserve everything and more.”

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Funny Birthday Wishes

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Get them laughing with a hilarious birthday message. A funny message will bring a smile to their face and get the good vibes flowing on their special day. This is an especially good idea if they’re a big jokester, or if the two of you usually bond over humor. Here are a few funny messages to inspire you:
- “Happy birthday! What some people might call old, I call vintage 💁‍♀️”
- “Don’t let aging get you down—you might not be able to get back up.”
- “Happy b-day! One year closer to the senior citizens discount on movie tickets 🍿”
- “Birthdays are like sports games. If you don’t keep count, it’s way more fun!”
- “The best thing about this day is the birthday cake. Oh yeah, and the fact that you were born.”
- “Happy birthday! Time to get a bunch of random text messages from people whose numbers you don’t have saved 🤣”
- “Don’t worry, like the wine we’re gonna drink tonight, you only get better with age 🍷”
- “Happy birthday to you! You may be another year older, but you’re still a spring chicken to me 🐣”
- “They say you get wiser with each passing year. I haven’t noticed it yet, but don’t worry, there’s still time 😆 Happy birthday!”
- “Happy birthday, old friend! One of these days, you’ll need to tell me some stories about what the late 1900s were like.”
- “Happy birthday to my bestie! One year closer to taking over the nursing home together 👵🏻”

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Unique Birthday Wishes

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Make them feel special with a unique birthday wish. If you really want to show someone how one-of-a-kind they are, try sending them a birthday message that’s a little more different and unique than the typical birthday wishes they might see. Here are a few suggestions to inspire you:
- “May your day be as sparkling and dazzling as your personality ✨Happy birthday!”
- “Happy birthday! Another year older, but your youthful spirit still shines every day.”
- “Wishing a happy birthday to the coolest person ever 😎 Keep doing you!”
- “Happy birthday to my shining star 💫 You’re truly one-of-a-kind!”
- “May your birthday be as fabulous as you are 💖”
- “Happy birthday! May you be treated like a queen all day long 👑”
- “Today, we celebrate the dazzling, unique, and unforgettable person that you are. Thank you for being YOU!”
- “Cheers to the person who smiles the biggest, laughs the hardest, and loves the most fiercely. I’m so lucky to know you!”
- “Happy birthday to a truly special person! May this coming year be filled with every single thing that your heart desires. No one deserves it more than you!”
- “Thinking back on all the amazing memories we’ve shared, I’m struck by how lucky I am to know you. Happy birthday to the most wonderful person I know!”

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Simple Birthday Wishes for Best Friend

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On their special day, let your bestie know how much they mean to you. A birthday is the perfect time to show appreciation for your best friend and tell them how happy you are to be in their life. Here are some examples of heartfelt messages to send them:
- “Happy birthday to my ride or die! I feel so lucky to go through life with you.”
- “Wishing the happiest of birthdays to my best friend in the world.”
- “Here’s to another year of adventures with my day one. Happy birthday!”
- “Happy birthday to my partner in crime! You mean the world to me.”
- “Cheers to the best friend I could ever ask for. Can’t wait to celebrate you today!”
- “Friends are the family we choose, and I’m so glad you chose me. Happy birthday!”
- “Wishing a very happy birthday to the person who’s been with me through thick and thin. I can’t wait to make more memories together!”
- “Today, we celebrate a truly incredible friend. You bring so much joy to everyone in your life, and we’re so lucky to have you.”
- “Happy birthday to the peanut butter to my jelly! You make life such a blast, and I’m so excited to go on more adventures with you.”
- “I’m the one who’s supposed to be getting you a present, but your friendship is the greatest gift. Happy birthday, bestie!”
- “Sending you lots of love on your birthday. May your day be filled with the kind of love and joy you bring to everyone around you (me included!).”
- “Happy birthday to my favorite person ever! You’ve taught me so much about what it means to be a friend, and I'm so lucky to live life by your side.”

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Romantic Birthday Wishes for Her

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A thoughtful and romantic birthday message is sure to make her day. Whether you’re writing a short message on a handmade birthday card, sending a cute text for her to wake up to, or posting a tribute to her on social media, here are some swoon-worthy birthday messages to try out:
- “You deserve the world on your special day. Happy birthday, beautiful!”
- “Happy birthday, love! Today and every day, I feel so lucky to be yours.”
- “Wishing a very happy birthday to my other half. I love you so much!”
- “Cheers to the girl who makes my world go round. Happy birthday, love!”
- “Happy birthday, my love! You deserve the entire world and more.”
- “Every year with you is even better than the last. Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world!”
- “Happy birthday to the best partner I could ever ask for. You make every day brighter, and I’m so grateful you chose me.”
- “My love, words can’t express how much you mean to me. Life with you just gets better and better, and I feel so lucky to be your partner. Happy birthday!”
- “Happy birthday to the love of my life. Being with you has been a dream, and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us.”
- “To the girl that never ceases to put a smile on my face, happy birthday! I hope you have the best day ever. There’s no one who deserves it more than you!”

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Romantic Birthday Wishes for Him

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Send a heartfelt and romantic message to make him feel special. Whether you’re newly dating or in a serious relationship, a sweet birthday message is sure to melt his heart on his special day! Here are some example messages for you to use:
- “Happiest of birthdays to my soulmate! Life with you is a fairytale.”
- “Happy birthday to my favorite guy in the world. I feel so lucky to be yours!”
- “Wishing a very happy birthday to the man who has my whole heart.”
- “Happy birthday, love! Being with you is an absolute dream.”
- “Happy birthday to the man who makes my heart skip a beat. I love you!”
- “Today and everyday, I’m so grateful to be your partner. Happy birthday, love!”
- Happy birthday to the best partner I could ever ask for! I feel so lucky to be by your side.”
- “Happy birthday to my best friend and other half. Every day with you is an adventure, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.”
- “When I met you, it felt like all my wildest dreams had come true, I still can’t believe how lucky I got. Happy birthday, my love!”
- “Today, we celebrate the incredible man that you are. You make every day better, and I can’t wait to have even more adventures with you. Happy birthday!”

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Simple Birthday Wishes for Family Members

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Send a loving birthday message to put a smile on their face. Whether you’re writing a message for your mom, dad, sibling, or grandparent, your thoughtfulness is sure to warm their heart! Here are some examples:
- For your mom:
  - “Happy birthday to the best mom in the whole world! I’m so grateful for you.”
  - “Happiest birthday to my fiercest cheerleader and best friend—my mom!”
  - “Mom, you’re the glue that holds our family together, and we’re so lucky to have you. Happy birthday!”
- For your dad:
  - “I’m so lucky to have a dad as amazing as you. Happy birthday!”
  - “Happy birthday to the coolest guy out there! Love you, dad.”
  - “To the best dad in the world, happy birthday! Thank you for everything you do—we’re all so grateful for you.”
- For a sibling:
  - “Happy birthday to my day one (literally). Thanks for being an amazing brother!”
  - “A very happy birthday to my built-in bestie! I’m so grateful that you’re my sister.”
  - “Happy birthday to my forever best friend, my sibling! I feel so lucky to go through life with you.”
- For a grandparent:
  - “Wishing a very happy birthday to the wisest person I know! I love you, Grandma.”
  - “Happy birthday, Grandma! Thank you for all your wisdom, guidance, and support. I’m so grateful for you!”
  - “Happiest of birthdays to the best grandpa in the world! I’m so thankful for everything you’ve taught me.”
  - “Happy birthday to a wonderful grandpa! You bring so much joy, wisdom, and laughter to our family, and we’re so grateful for you.”

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Simple Birthday Wishes for Coworkers

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Brighten your coworker’s work day with a nice birthday message. It’s always a good idea to wish your coworker a happy birthday, whether you’ve built a genuine friendship with them or you just chat casually during lunch breaks. Here are some sincere, friendly, and professional birthday messages to try:
- “Wishing you a very happy birthday. Thanks for being an awesome coworker!”
- “Happiest of birthdays to an amazing person! I’m so glad to be your teammate.”
- “Cheers to you on your birthday! Thank you for being the best coworker ever.”
- “Happy birthday! I feel so lucky to work with someone as amazing as you.”
- “Happy birthday! Working with you is a blast, and I’m so glad you joined our team.”
- “Happy birthday to an awesome coworker! Cheers to another year of teamwork.”
- “Wishing the happiest of birthdays to an awesome coworker! Hope you have the best day ever.”
- “Your dedication and hard work are inspiring, and I’m so happy to be your colleague. Happy birthday!”
- “Happy birthday to an inspiring and hardworking colleague! Working with you is such a pleasure.”
- “On your birthday, I just wanted to let you know how much of a joy it is to work with you. I hope you have an incredible day celebrating with friends and family!”

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Simple Milestone Birthday Wishes

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Milestone birthdays warrant extra special birthday messages. It’s a good idea to mention how momentous the occasion is, and to tailor your message for the specific age they’re turning. For example, if someone is celebrating a 21st birthday, you could wish them happiness as they enter their adulthood years. Or, if they’re turning 50, you could tell them how inspired you are by everything they’ve achieved in the past decades. Here are some examples:
- “Happy 10th birthday! Wow, double digits! I hope you have the best birthday ever, and I hope you have an absolute blast being 10.”
- “Happy 16th birthday! I’m so proud of the amazing person you’re becoming, and I hope you have a fantastic sweet 16.”
- “Happy 18th birthday! Congratulations on officially becoming an adult! This is such an exciting time in your life, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things you'll achieve.”
- “Happy 21st birthday! Cheers to you on your 21st, and I can’t wait to toast with your first (legal!) drink. Hope your year is filled with fun, dancing, and laughter!”
- “Happy 30th birthday! You’re absolutely thriving, and I’m so excited to see the amazing things that come your way in this new decade!”
- “Happy 40th birthday! I’m so in awe of everything you’ve achieved over the years, and I can’t wait to see what this new chapter brings you. The best is yet to come!”
- “Happy 50th birthday! Here’s to half a century of love, laughter, and kindness. You’ve inspired me so much over the years, and I’m so thankful you’re in my life!”
- “Happy 60th birthday! I want to take a moment to celebrate the beautiful life you’ve built. I’m in awe of your wisdom and hard work, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!”
- “Happy 70th birthday! You are a true inspiration to everyone who knows you, and we’re so thankful for your wisdom, guidance, and love. Congrats on this milestone!”
- “Happy 80th birthday! Wow, 80 years of love, laughter, and beautiful memories. I’m so grateful to know you, and so thankful for the wisdom you’ve shared with me.”
- “Happy 90th birthday! Over the past 9 decades, you’ve shown us all the importance of kindness and hard work. Your story is truly inspiring, and I’m lucky to be a part of it!”
- “Happy 100th birthday! I will forever cherish the life lessons, laughter, and memories you’ve shared with me. You’ve lived an extraordinary life, and I’m so inspired by you!”

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Birthday Quotes

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If you’re not sure what to say, share a birthday quote. Famous figures have said some heartwarming, meaningful, funny, and inspiring things about birthdays over the years, and one of these quotes could be the perfect message for your loved one. Here are some options to choose from:]
- “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” — Robert Browning
- “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” — William Shakespeare
- “Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” –Aretha Franklin
- “You don’t get older, you get better.” –Shirley Bassey
- “"Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it.” — Brigitte Bardot
- “The way I see it, you should live everyday like it's your birthday.” — Paris Hilton
- “The older you get the better you get, unless you are a banana.” – Betty White
- “The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.” — Madeleine L'Engle
- “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” — John Lennon
- “It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” –Abraham Lincoln
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” —C.S. Lewis
- “The old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything.” — Oscar Wilde
- “Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young.” — Fred Astaire
- “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.” — Lucille Ball
- “A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman’s birthday but never remembers her age.” — Robert Frost

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Advice for Writing Birthday Messages

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1
Tell them all the things you love about them. “Words are a powerful way to illustrate love, gratitude and appreciation,” explains marriage and family therapist Moshe Ratson.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC
Marriage & Family Therapist

Expert Interview} So, if you’re hoping to make someone feel extra special on their birthday, it’s a good idea to “describe on paper exactly how you feel about them,” and “say what you love and appreciate about them.”^{[2]
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Expert Source

Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC
Marriage & Family Therapist

Expert Interview} Here are some examples of the kinds of compliments you might write:
- “On your birthday, I want to let you know how inspired I am by your hard work and dedication. You never give up until you reach your goals, and it’s so powerful to watch!”
- “Your kindness, empathy, and giant heart are such blessings to everyone who knows you. Today and everyday, you should know how appreciated you are!”
- “Today, I want you to know that your creativity and artistic talent leave me completely in awe. It’s such a privilege to watch your journey, and I can’t wait to see what you achieve next!”
2
Consider doing something creative, like writing a poem. Ratson recommends doing something outside-the-box like this to make them feel super special, and he explains that the effort and creativity you put in symbolizes your love for the person.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC
Marriage & Family Therapist

Expert Interview} “It’s all about making them feel appreciated, unique, different… [and to show] that you really thought about them,” explains Ratson. ^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC
Marriage & Family Therapist

Expert Interview} Here are some ideas:
- You could compose a simple rhyming poem about this person’s traits and characteristics, and then write it down in a beautiful birthday card.
- You could write an acrostic poem, which is basically a list of words describing the person using each letter from their name.
  - For example, for someone named Ella, the acrostic might read: E- empathetic, L - lovely, L- loyal, A- authentic.
Ultimately, the most important thing when writing a birthday message is to be genuine and sincere. If you share how grateful you are to be in their life, how much you care about them, and how much you appreciate them, you can’t go wrong!

Birthday Message Generator

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