These free reference lists contain lists of first names sorted by speech sound, making it easy to target specific speech sounds by naming the characters and people in pictures, short videos, picture books, or sequencing scenes you’re already using!
This freebie would pair perfectly with these top-rated resources:
- Scenes for Speech Sounds
- Sequencing for Simple Story Retell
- Story Units (like Cloudy!)
- Problem Solving Scenarios Using Real Pictures
- Sentence Sliders (like these for past tense verbs)
Enjoy the freebie! ❤️
Feel free to email the Speechy Musings team at hello@speechymusings.com with any questions!
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Renee A. –
Wonderful, thank you for sharing this!
Emily Rivera –
As a bilingual SLP I was happy to see that many of these names overlap between English and Spanish. It makes it easier to use with my bilingual caseload without having to create separate lists for each language.
Dawn –
Simple and effective. Thank you!
Courtney G. –
I shared this with the classroom teachers in my building so they can help reinforce speech sounds during the school day. They use the name lists during reading groups and morning meeting. Great for building that collaborative approach to speech goals.
Lisa O. –
Printing this for every sound folder.
Danielle –
Awesome free resource!
Beth S. –
Love this concept so much.
Amy K. –
Keeps my artic groups on track!
Donna O. –
I have used many artic resources over my career and this one stands out for how practical it is. No fancy graphics needed, just a clear, usable list of real names sorted by sound. Sometimes the simplest tools are the most effective.
Pam –
Nice lists, would love to see more names for final position sounds.
Elizabeth U. –
My students LOVE the name practice.
Susan –
Really well organized resource.
Kayla –
I just finished my CF and this was one of the first things I downloaded. It is so well organized and has made articulation therapy feel more natural for both me and my students. The /sh/ and /ch/ lists have been especially useful this semester.
Kristen U. –
I cannot say enough good things about this resource. As a school SLP with a heavy caseload, I am always looking for materials that are ready to go with minimal prep. These name lists are exactly that. I printed them at the beginning of the year and laminated each page by sound so I can grab what I need between sessions. My students love the name practice because it feels more real than typical drill words. We have done roll call games, name bingo, and even a name scavenger hunt around the school where students had to find classmates whose names matched their target sound. The organization by initial, medial, and final position is perfect for differentiating within mixed groups. Honestly one of the best free resources I have ever downloaded from TpT.
Caroline E. –
Wonderful freebie, very well made!
Gina G. –
I use this with every single one of my artic students. We play a game where they have to say names from their sound list and the other kids in the group guess which sound they are targeting. It gets everyone involved.
Danielle S. –
Perfect for IEP goal practice. I can look up exactly which names contain my student’s target sound in the right position and build activities around those. Makes documentation and progress monitoring easier too.
Carol Foster –
I am a special education teacher and the school SLP shared this with me to help reinforce speech sounds in my classroom. It has been great for morning meeting when we practice saying each other’s names clearly.
Rachel G. –
I need to write a proper review for this because it has earned it. I work at two different schools and carry my materials between buildings every day. Having a compact, well organized reference sheet of names by sound has made my life so much easier. I keep a copy in each building now. The initial position lists are probably my most used, especially for /s/, /r/, and /l/. But I have also gotten a lot of mileage out of the medial and final position lists for students who are ready to move beyond initial sound targets. I use it as a warm up, a practice activity, and sometimes even for data collection since I can quickly mark which names a student produces correctly. If you are on the fence about downloading this, just do it. It is free and you will definately use it.
Kathy –
After teaching for many years I thought I had all the artic materials I needed, but this one adds something different. Using real names brings a level of engagement that flashcards just can’t match. Really nice work.
Tanya M. –
Used it today and my group loved it.
Wendy U. –
Super practical, thanks!
Kelly Y. –
My kiddos get excited for name practice!
Lisa Foster –
Printed and put in my speech binder!
Jenny O. –
Love using real names for speech practice.
Sherry Q. –
Thank you for this amazing freebie!
Brenda E. –
Downloaded this on a whim and now it is one of my most used resources. I do a name matching game where students have to sort names by their target sound and position. They get really competitive about it and the practice reps add up fast.
Catherine Brooks –
I work in a Title I school and many of my students come from diverse backgrounds. I love that the name lists include a wide range of names and some that work well for both English and Spanish speaking families. Very thoughtful.
Sarah I. –
I have been looking for something like this for ages. Having names pre-sorted by sound makes my job so much easier, especially when I’m running back to back sessions and don’t have time to search for materials between groups.
Creative Speech Therapy –
Good lists, just wish there were a few more uncommon sounds included.
Bright Ideas SLP –
Reccommend this to everyone!
Courtney Y. –
BEST free artic resource on TpT.
Monica G. –
I have been working as a school based SLP for over 10 years and manage a caseload of about 55 students. Finding resources that are truly no prep and functional is always a priority for me. These name lists check both boxes. I printed them out at the beginning of the year and keep a set in each of my therapy bins organized by sound. When I pull a student for artic, I grab the right sheet and we jump straight into practice. The fact that I can use real names means the practice transfers more naturally into conversation. My students who work on /r/ in medial position especially love finding names like Sarah and Mariah. One of my favorites to use during group sessions where kids are targeting different sounds. Everyone can participate with the same format but different name lists. It saves me from having to prep separate materials for each student.
Tracy M. –
Fits right into my therapy routine.
Stacy Y. –
Five stars, use it all the time.
Rachel Cooper –
Wish I had this years ago!
Jane S. –
Just started using this with my mixed artic groups and it has been a hit. One student is working on /r/ and another on /l/ and they both get excited comparing their name lists. Really brings the group together.
Sharon Johnson –
I like the resource overall and use it regularly. I gave it 4 stars because some of the name lists for medial position sounds are a bit short. Would love to see those expanded in a future update, but it is still very useful as is.
Mandy S. –
Added this to my therapy toolkit!
Speechie Nicole –
As a fellow TpT creator, I just have to say how well thought out this is. The names are sorted so clearly and it is obvious a lot of care went into making sure each sound has plenty of options across all three positions.
Brittany G. –
This made my Monday planning easier!
Jodie –
I teach special education and the SLP gave me this to use in my classroom for speech reinforcement. It has been wonderful for my students who need extra practice. We do a name of the day activity every morning and it has really helped with carryover.
Brooke E. –
Used it today, the kids were so engaged.
Emily Wright –
Thank you for making this free!
Andrea U. –
Low prep and high engagement. Win win!
Victoria C. –
My students ask for the name lists now.
Kristin A. –
Staple in my therapy binder now!
Julia I. –
Such a thoughtful freebie. I appreciate having names organized by initial, medial, and final position. It makes targeting specific sound placements so much easier and the kids think it is fun.
Diane A. –
I wanted to leave a detailed review because this resource really deserves it. I have been an SLP for 15 years, mostly in elementary schools, and I have tried just about every articulation resource out there. What makes this one stand out is how functional it is. Instead of drilling random CVC words, my students are saying real names that they encounter in their daily lives. I use it for roll call games, name sorting activites, and even as a reference when I am writing IEP goals and want to include functional targets. The organization by sound and position makes it incredibly easy to find what I need in the moment. I have recommended it to every SLP in my district.
Nina S. –
I run a private practice and families love when I incorporate real names into therapy. Parents have told me their kids practice saying their siblings’ and cousins’ names at home now. That kind of carryover is priceless.
Kelly –
This is GREAT for mixed groups.
Paula C. –
Grabbed this and use it constantly!
Casey U. –
Perfect warm up for my artic sessions.
Heather –
Pulled this out for my 4th and 5th graders and they were way more into it than I expected. Older kids sometimes roll their eyes at speech practice but using names of people they know made it feel less babyish to them.
Jessica K. –
What a creative approach to artic therapy. I have a student working on /s/ blends in initial position and she loves going through the name list to find names that start with those blends. It feels like a treasure hunt to her.
Angela Q. –
This fits perfectly into my therapy routine. I use it during attendance time with my students and they don’t even realize they’re working on speech sounds. Functional practice at its best.
Susan M. –
Well organized and easy to navigate.
Mountain View Speech –
Handy reference I use every week.
Claire A. –
We do a “name of the day” in my speech room where I pick a name from the target sound list and we practice saying it in sentences. My 2nd graders think it is the funniest thing and they remember the names all week.
Diana G. –
Simple, effective, love it!
Darlene U. –
After 20 years in the field I thought I had seen it all, but this is such a smart way to approach artic therapy. My students are more motivated and the sessions feel much more natural when we use real names for practice.
Natalie U. –
Useful lists. Would be nice to see them updated with more modern names.
Grace I. –
I’m in my CF year and feeling a little overwhelmed with planning, so finding free resources like this has been so helpful. It’s organized, practical, and my students respond really well to practicing with real names.
Martha A. –
Names for /th/ in initial position, yes!
Marie E. –
I keep coming back to this resource again and again. It works perfectly for my mixed articulation groups because each student can work on their own target sound using the same activity format. Saves me so much planning time.
Tammy Lee –
Downloaded and used the same day!
Pam O. –
Quick and functional. Thank you!
Leslie W. –
Absolutely love the name sorting idea.
Sara W. –
Nice reference tool. Would love a digital/editable version.
Jodie A. –
This is one of those resources that seems so simple but ends up being incredibly useful in practice. I use it almost daily for warm ups and it pairs great with the Scenes for Speech Sounds resource too.
Robin K. –
I am a SPED teacher and I use this alongside the SLP’s recommendations for my students’ speech goals. It helps me reinforce sounds in the classroom by using the name lists during morning greeting and attendance.
Katie Nguyen –
I appreciate how comprehensive this is. Every sound position is covered and there are enough names on each list that I never run out. My students working on /l/ blends have really benefited from seeing names like Blake and Clayton.
Kristen M. –
Total lifesaver for mixed groups!
Theresa W. –
Easy to use and the kids are engaged.
Jenna Y. –
Exactly what I was searching for!
Laura Reed –
Downloaded this to use with my kindergarten group and it was an instant hit. We play a guessing game where I describe a name by its sounds and they have to figure out who I am talking about. Great for both artic and phonological awareness.
Theresa S. –
I have 18 years of experience and I still find new resources that surprise me. This one is simple but so effective. My students are way more willing to practice when they see real names instead of nonsense syllables or boring word lists.
Sarah E. –
Great for targeting /r/ with real names.
Marie U. –
Brilliant idea, love it!
Brooke A. –
I run a small private practice and this has been wonderful for making articulation therapy feel more relevant to my clients. Parents have commented that their kids actually want to practice at home using names of family members.
Maria K. –
Been using this for about a month now and it really has made my artic sessions more engaging. My third graders especially enjoy it because they recognize so many of the names from school.
Jen Q. –
Tried the roll call game, kids loved it!
Jackie U. –
Honestly this is one of my most used freebies from TpT. I printed it, laminated it, and it lives in my therapy bag. When a kid finishes early I grab it and we do a name hunt for their sound.
Tiffany W. –
This is the kind of resource I was looking for during my CF year. Zero prep, easy to understand, and my supervisor loved that I was using functional targets. Real names make so much more sense than random word lists.
Jasmine A. –
I teach a mixed group of 1st and 2nd graders and they all respond so well to this. We play a sorting game where they put names under the right sound column. It targets both their speech goals and early literacy skills.
The SLP Next Door –
Really like the concept. Wish there were a few more names for /ch/ in final position.
Therapy Talk with Tara –
Using this in every session now.
Tina Q. –
Super helpful for /sh/ targets!
Danielle W. –
I paired this with picture books and had my students find characters whose names match their target sound. It turned into such a fun activity and the kids were practicing without even realizing it.
Julia –
Names sorted by sound position = genius.
Jill W. –
Fantastic resource, very well organized.
Caitlin S. –
Can’t believe this is free!
Panda Speech Therapy –
SO useful for quick therapy sessions.
Pam K. –
Why didn’t I think of this?!
Jane E. –
This has become my go-to warm up. I do a pretend roll call where each student has to say names from their target sound list. They think they are playing a game and meanwhile they are getting tons of practice reps in.
Caroline I. –
Love this for my caseload!
Anna Nguyen –
I work with a lot of bilingual students and many of these names work across English and Spanish which is a huge bonus. My kids get so excited to see names they recognize from their communities.
Language Ladder –
Fellow TpT seller here and I just wanted to say this is such a clever idea. I use it alongside my own articulation materials and it adds that extra layer of engagement. Well done!
Kayla O. –
Printed and laminated, use it daily!
Frances K. –
Quick, easy, and the kids love it.
Caitlin –
I run mixed artic groups with kids targeting different sounds and this resource makes it so simple. One kid works on /s/ names while another works on /th/ names. Everyone stays engaged because we are all doing the same activity just with different targets.
Katherine O. –
Handy reference, wish it had last names too.
Kristina O. –
My kids ask for the name game now!
Erica A. –
Best name lists I have found!
Janice Miller –
What a thoughtful resource! I work with K-2 students and they absolutely light up when they hear familiar names during speech practice. It makes the whole session feel more natural and less like a drill.
Rachel Jackson –
Downloaded this for my CF year and it has been one of my most used resources. I keep it on my iPad and pull it up whenever I need names with specific sounds. The /r/ list has been especially helpful.
Kate I. –
Functional and easy to use.
Coastal Speech Services –
Use this weekly in my private practice!
Miss Speech Path –
I have been an SLP for 12 years and I wish I had found this sooner. Using real names for artic practice is so much more functional than drilling random words. My students are always more motivated when names are involved.
Tammy G. –
So creative and practical!
Jamie Q. –
This is a must have for artic therapy.
Jamie –
Really useful resource and I use it all the time. My only wish is that there were more names for some of the less common sounds like /zh/ in medial position. But overall a solid reference tool.
Sandra G. –
As a school SLP with a caseload of 60+, I am always looking for low prep resources. This is exactly that. I can target /l/ in initial position with names like Lauren and Lucas, and the kids are way more engaged than with random word lists.
Christina M. –
LOVE the name lists by sound.
Tara E. –
So functional for therapy!
Joy W. –
I printed these out and keep them in a binder by sound. When I need a quick warm up activity, I grab the page for whatever sound we are working on and we do a roll call game. The kids think it is hilarious.
Lauren M. –
This has been a staple in my therapy room since I downloaded it. My students get so excited when they see their own name or a classmate’s name on the list. Makes practice feel real and meaningful.
Diane Wright –
I use this every single week with my mixed artic group. Having the names sorted by initial, medial, and final position makes it so easy to pull what I need quickly.
Brenda C. –
Great freebie for articulation therapy!
Jennifer I. –
Grab and go, just what I needed.
Monica Sanders –
Kids love finding their friends’ names!
Jackie M. –
Such a fun way to target /s/ and /r/!
Megan S. –
Perfect for my artic groups!