That depends on who it is for. If it is a child I put their first initial. A couple who has different last names first and last. A couple with the same name the last. Have fun.

I use the first letter

I believe typically you use the first letter of the last name if you are doing a formal set.

For a 3 letter monogram the first letter in the last name is in the center, the first letter of the first name is on the left and the first letter of the middle name is on the right. The last name (center) letter is usually larger.

Usually you put the first letter of the last name. But, for my kids I do the first letter of the first name so they can tell their towels apart. Or I do the whole first name for the kids. (2 of mine start with A. What was I thinking? LOL)
Then there is my neighbor who named all of her kids with J names. Or the other family with all D names for boys and V names for girls and they have more than double my amount of kids.

Initial of the last name. You can have husband's first name initial on left and wife's first name initial on the right. I have done many with just last name initial= example the embossed swan initials turned out beautifully. Did smaller size on handtowel and put a swan in the corner of washcloth.

Initial of the last name. You can have husband's first name initial on left and wife's first name initial on the right. I have done many with just last name initial= example the embossed swan initials turned out beautifully. Did smaller size on handtowel and put a swan in the corner of washcloth.

Bunch of good comments here--Have fun working on your towels Cloey :) I'm still trying to get at mine. With all those beautiful embossed designs here lately, it's going to be hard to decide on one!

I use the first letter.