Text to maritime signal flags
Handy for sailors, scouts and anyone decorating a boat or party with a name spelled in flags.
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How to use it
- Enter word.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Each Latin letter has a flag in the International Code of Signals named after its phonetic word, and flown alone it carries a meaning, such as O = man overboard.
Example
Inputs: Word = SAIL. Result: Flags in order: Sierra Alfa India Lima; Flags: 4; Unsupported symbols: None.
SAIL
Sierra Alfa India Lima
Limits and caveats
- Numeral pennants and substitutes are not supported; letters only.
- Colour notes are brief, and shades and proportions vary a little between makers.
- Some single-flag meanings differ for fishing vessels; the general meaning is shown.
Questions about this tool
What does flag O mean alone?
Man overboard, which is why sailors know this flag well.
Are the flag names the NATO phonetic words?
Yes. Each flag is named after its letter's word in the international phonetic alphabet, such as Alfa and Bravo.
Does flying a name in flags send a message?
Not as decoration, but a single flag at sea is read with its meaning, so avoid flying flags such as O or V alone by mistake.