Cross symbols and X marks
This page collects two kinds of crosses: religious and heraldic crosses like ✝ ✞ ☦ ✠, and X-shaped marks like ✗ ✕ ✖ used to mean no, close or wrong. They're all text characters, so they take the colour of your writing and work in names, bios and messages.
Kinds of crosses
- ✝ and ✞ are the Latin cross, plain and shadowed. They're often used in faith-related bios and memorial posts.
- ☦ is the Orthodox cross, with its extra slanted bar.
- ✠ is the Maltese cross, a heraldic design with four arrow-like arms.
- ☩ and ✙ are other decorative crosses.
- † and ‡ are the dagger and double dagger, which also mark footnotes in printed text.
- ✗ ✘ ✕ ✖ are X marks for "no" or "wrong".
Using crosses respectfully
Religious crosses carry real meaning for many people. In memorial messages, a simple ✝ next to a name is common. In decorative or gaming names, consider how the symbol may be read by others.
Pairs well with
Crosses sit naturally next to gothic letters, for example ✠ 𝕾𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙 ✠. For ticks and checkboxes, see check mark symbols.
Daggers in writing and printing
The dagger † and double dagger ‡ have a long history in printing. They mark footnotes after the asterisk has been used, and in some books a dagger next to a name or date shows that a person has died. In maths and science they can mark special notes in tables.
X marks for lists and forms
For a simple "no" or "not done", the light ✗ and heavy ✘ ballot crosses look neat next to check marks ✓ in a list. The multiplication-style ✕ and ✖ are often used as close buttons in designs. All of these are standard symbols that display on almost every device.
Holy and Catholic cross icons
If you are looking for an icon cross for a church post, the Latin cross ✝ is the usual holy cross, and ✞ is a common choice for Catholic and memorial messages. Treat them respectfully, as above.