20 Messy Famous Signatures

By Samantha Di Nardo

Two pens engraved

20 Messy Famous Signatures

By Samantha Di Nardo

They’re highly prominent household names with equally famous signatures. You love their speeches, you fill up theaters to watch their films and stadiums to watch them perform.

You read about them but can you write like them?

Check out these wild strokes and curvy cursive that make these signatures almost illegible. Discover some of the messiest celebrity autographs and see how your's compares.

If you can figure out who these signatures belong to you have a seriously strong imagination, or maybe you’re squinting just the right amount.


Pen autograph matching

Can You Match These Wacky Signatures to Their Famous Owners?

Before reading this page why not try your best to match these scribbled famous signatures to their owners? Some of them are sure to leave you utterly perplexed.

Download this FREE quiz


1. Barack Obama

Barack Obama signature

Barack’s signature is loose and cursive. Its thread shape shows that he is a relaxed easy going person. The big letters at the start of each name reveal a bold decisive nature to his personality. He passionately pursues the causes he believes in, often taking the leadership role.

2. Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway autograph

The large loose strokes in Anne’s handwriting exude confidence and drive. Anne is driven by strong ideas that she’s willing to speak up and fight for. She challenges the status quo and plays by her own rules.

3. Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong signature

Some famous signatures look more like sketches, and this is a fine example. Neil’s light pinstripe signature reveals a more reserved, sensitive and intuitive personality. He’s more comfortable in his own company. He prefers individual projects where he can channel his creativity and lose himself.

4. Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama autograph

The Dalai Lama’s wide spacing and bold print reveal a peaceful, loving and kind personality. He’s balanced and welcoming of change. He thrives in calm spaces but loves to engage in deep conversations with people on matters of life. He’s better within a team than leading it.

5. Walt Disney

Walt Disney autograph

Walt’s cursive strokes exhibit child-like wonder and an indomitable spirit that never gives up. Always dreaming and coming up with ideas that others would question. He’s sensitive and has an active imagination. He’s shy around people thus prefers to work alone.

6. Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney signature

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it also applies in the world of famous signatures. That’s Paul’s style. His autograph reveals he’s a by-the-book fellow. He goes for tried and tested methods as long as he gets the desired results. He prefers to work in a team rather than take the lead. Need something done? He’s your guy. His reliable nature wouldn’t allow for anything less.

7. Hunter S Thompson

Hunter S Thompson autograph

Hunter looks for plenty of exciting adventures. The grandiose nature of his signature shows he’s not afraid to take risks. He lunges forward in the face of what most people would consider dangerous. This makes him a great leader who’s quick at decision making.

8. Kanye West

Kanye West autograph

Of all the famous signatures in our list, this one takes the cake for being incredibly quirky.

Kanye could care less for rules and regulations. He plays by his own set and encourages others to do the same. His signature doesn’t stick to the line and looks more like a GIF. This points to a brave, carefree personality who’s definitely a trendsetter.

9. John F Kennedy

John F Kennedy signature

John’s angled signature reveals an aggressive and decisive person. He pursues the causes he believes in with an unflinching resolve that startles those around him. He makes for an excellent leader if you can keep up with him!

10. Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger autograph

Carefree, introspective, uncertain and a little shy perfectly describes Heath. His loose thread-like strokes point to a very melancholic individual who’s always lost in his own imagination. Unable to explain his ideas to others, he creatively articulates himself through poems and probably keeps a journal.

11. Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp autograph

We’ve got ourselves an artsy type. Johnny’s large signature shows that he loves to be out in the crowd where’s he’s the center of attention. He’s open and welcoming of people and always has something to say. He’s fun and loves to entertain.

12. Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein autograph

Albert’s small and heavy signature reveals a focused dominating personality. He can easily handle painstaking activities and revels in his ability to solve difficult challenges. He loves solitude where he can think and create uninterrupted.

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger autograph

The fine large lines in Arnold’s signature reveal a sensitive, larger than life personality. At the same time, the spacing points to a cautious side that critically thinks before making decisions. He’s very self-aware and diligently applies himself to a good challenge.

14. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall signature

Some famous signatures employ the “barely there” approach which appears neglectful and points towards an introverted, shy, sensitive personality. Jane favors personal pursuits that allow her to move at her own pace and use her creativity. She takes her time when making decisions and is quite confident in them.

15. Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel

Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel signature

The wide spacing in Coco’s signature reveals a friendly, open and welcoming personality. She’s always quick to host or attend every party because she likes to meet new people. She’ll never miss a kind word for anyone which makes her a very approachable supportive leader.

16. Amelia Earheart

Amelia Earheart autograph

Amelia’s light strokes reveal a quiet, shy and uncertain personality. Social gatherings probably make her neurotic but she’ll quickly play her part when needed. She’s reliable once she figures out where she fits in with the larger group. You’ll probably find her reading in a corner.

17. Serena Williams

Serena Williams signature

Ornamentation best describes Serena’s signature style. It reveals a dauntless personality. She walks into a room and commands the space. Her bravery makes it easy for her to speak up for the things she believes with urgency and vehemence only visible in a few. She is a force to reckon with.

18. Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg signature

I bet you’re wondering where the rest of the signature is. Mark’s letter form quality depicts a kind of neglect. He could care less for formal setups and rarely sticks to the status quo. He’s probably preoccupied with a book or a new invention. He’s an innovator who quickly identifies opportunities for expansion.

19. JK Rowling

JK Rowling autograph

This loose cursive style probably took JK Rowling 3 seconds! It's one of the famous signatures that fascinates me the most. Her writing pace reveals a quick thinker. The fine lines reveal a more sensitive, spiritual, curious, and creative personality. She easily adapts to change and quickly looks for the next best solution. She practically lives on the bright side of things.

20. Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci autograph

The spacing in Leonardo’s signature reveals an introverted and introspective personality. Writing this must’ve taken careful concern which paints the picture of a logical thinker. “Just how much can I learn?” That’s probably his biggest daily concern. He’s more of a polymath so you’ll find him dabbling in many different things as long as they interest him.

From Signing Famous Signatures to Everyday Note-taking, Luxury Fountain Pens Do it All

Daydreaming of scrawling your signature for throngs of fans?

Nonetheless, whether you’re writing a letter to a loved one, a thoughtful thank-you card, or simply imagining yourself autographing crazed fan’s t-shirts, you need a great pen that is up to the task.

You can even have your signature engraved on your pen!

Dayspring Pens has a wide collection of journals, stationery, and luxury pens to take your autograph to the next level. You might even join the league of famous signatures one day.

Sam Di Nardo

Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018.

From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments.

A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens.

Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

2 Comments

Former president of America
Barack Obama’s signature
Is unique.

Musa Mason Likita

Dalai Lama and Serena have a good sinature

Ashraf Hussain

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.