The name goes in the third line of the song: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear [Name], happy birthday to you." Swap [Name] for their first name or nickname. The tune holds the name note, so names of any length fit.
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear [Name],
Happy birthday to you!
That's the whole first verse, and it is the only one most people sing. Only the third line changes from person to person.
The name always lands after "dear" in line three. Written music for the song holds that spot with a pause mark (a fermata), so singers stretch or squeeze it to fit.
The song has traditional extra verses that are sung after the first one, especially at children's parties:
From good friends and true,
From old friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.
How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old, how old,
How old are you now?
Many families also add a spoken or sung "…and many more!" at the end.
Small changes make the classic words feel like theirs:
The melody comes from "Good Morning to All", a song for schoolchildren published in 1893 and traditionally credited to sisters Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill, though that credit has been disputed. The birthday words were added later.
For decades a music publisher, Warner/Chappell, charged licensing fees for commercial uses of the song. In 2015 a U.S. federal judge ruled that the publisher did not hold a valid copyright in the lyrics. In June 2016 the court approved a $14 million settlement and declared that "Happy Birthday to You" is in the public domain in the United States. Rules in other countries can differ.
Singing it at home or at a party was never the issue. The case was about paid licenses for films, TV, recordings and other commercial uses.
The classic lyrics are the same for everyone; only the name changes. If you want a song about them, start with original lyrics instead. On BirthdaySongWithName.online you enter their name, the occasion and a memory or inside joke, then edit a lyric draft line by line. One credit turns it into two full versions of about 60 seconds that you can download as MP3s.
The songs are original. The lyric draft opens with a fresh chorus built around their name, and the music follows the style and tempo you pick, so we don't promise the traditional "Happy Birthday to You" melody. Start with birthday song lyrics with name, or see prerecorded vs AI birthday songs to compare the two kinds of name songs.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear [Name], happy birthday to you." Put their name or nickname in the third line.
In the third line, right after "dear". It is the only line that changes.
Sing it a little faster, or use a nickname. The tune holds the name note, so short names can be stretched and long ones squeezed.
"From good friends and true, from old friends and new, may good luck go with you, and happiness too", and "How old are you now?" sung four times.
In the United States, no. In June 2016 a federal court approved a settlement that declared the song in the public domain, after a 2015 ruling that the publisher's claim to the lyrics was not valid. Rules in other countries can differ.
We make original songs: a new set of lyrics with their name, in the style and tempo you choose. We don't promise the traditional melody.
Type the lyrics into the chat, or make an original song and send the MP3 or share link. See how to send a birthday song on WhatsApp.