UGH! Forgot Someone’s Big Day? We’ve Got You Covered With 125 Belated Birthday Wishes and Messages

Sweet belated messages to share when you forget someone's special day.

Author:
Wendee Wendt
Jun 22, 2023

Oh, no! You forgot someone's birthday....again! It happens. Life is busy. Let me repeat that—life is busy!

People can be more understanding than you may think if you skip the excuses and just acknowledge your simple mistake. We have created this list of 125 belated birthday wishes to help make it easier for you.

Maybe you didn't see the Facebook notification, maybe you were off your phone almost all day, maybe you have a lot of personal stress going on right now that has made it tricky to remember anything else. It's totally understandable! But now, how do you reach out to say, "Happy belated birthday"?

Whether it was the birthday of your friend, family member or coworker, we've got both thoughtful and funny messages you can share. Read through and see which one expresses just the right amount of sentiment to the person in your life whose birthday you happened to miss.

Related: 150 Best Happy Birthday Quotes & Wishes To Celebrate Someone’s Special Day

How to wish someone a belated happy birthday

Even with our smartphones, we can do silly things like forget someone special's day. We may forget to put it in our calendars or we may see that notification first thing in the morning and think that we will get to it later.

Wishing someone a happy birthday is easy. However, wishing someone a belated birthday can be trickier. You want to make sure the person you are giving the wishes truly understands what you truly mean. After all, you missed their special day, and you'll want to make sure they feel special regardless of that fact.

Humor can always break the ice, if it is harmless and well-received. But the key is to just be true to yourself, own the fact that you missed the person’s birthday and then genuinely wish them well.

Related: It's the Big Five-Oh! 52 of the Very Best 50th Birthday Gifts to Celebrate Turning a Half-Century

Best belated birthday wishes

These wishes aren’t late, they’re just super early for next year! Happy birthday!

Belated happy birthday wishes to you! I so wanted to be on time but then I ended up being a little late… I promise I’ll be better next year!

A belated happy birthday! May every blessing find its way to your door—and hopefully faster than this card!

I truly hope your birthday was the best one yet. Sorry, I missed it.

Happy belated birthday! I hope whatever you wished for comes true this next year.

I know this is late—why break tradition? Hope your day was fun.

Whether my birthday wishes are this year (or technically for next year) they are still sincere in wanting nothing but the best for you!

Sorry, to be the last one to wish you a happy birthday, but my sincere feelings are always with you.

This is late, I know, but I hope it was a fantastic birthday for you!

Receive my sincere but belated wishes for happiness for your special day. I am also sending prayers for blessings and prosperity in the year to come.

Birthdays are meant to be fun and a celebration of milestones. I know you had a great one even though I missed it.

UGH! My brain short-circuited and I forgot your birthday. Please forgive me, and belated wishes to you!

I totally messed up and forgot your birthday. Hopefully, it was as fantastic as you are!

I must be getting more forgetful with age! I completely forgot your birthday but am still sending the most love-filled birthday wishes to you!

I really wanted to send you this birthday wish on time, but it wasn’t meant to be! Happiest of late birthday wishes!

From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry to have missed your special day! Belated birthday wishes!

Have another great day of birthday celebrations thanks to me and my forgetfulness!!

I am a bit late to the birthday party this year, and I am so sorry for that. I wish you nothing but peace and happiness this coming year! Happy birthday!

I am bowing my head and hoping you can forgive me for being late on your birthday wishes this year! I love you and am sending you the most heartfelt belated birthday wishes!

Happy (just a teeny-tiny bit late) birthday wishes! Have a sensational year ahead!

I promise that this will be the last time I miss such a special day. You mean the world to me, and I hope the day was everything you had hoped it would be.

Saved the best birthday wishes for last! Happy belated wishes to you!

Just when you thought your birthday ended, here come my wishes just in time! Belated birthday wishes!

I didn’t forget your birthday—I just forgot it was yesterday! Happiest of wishes to you!

You deserve the most incredible birthday—hopefully, my late wishes didn’t mess that up! Happy belated birthday!

I missed your birthday,
It snuck up on me this year.
But I’m sending some late wishes,
They’re extra special, my dear!

Belated birthday wishes for friends

Belated happy birthday to you. I hope you know that I would never miss the birthday of a good friend like you on purpose.

Even though this is late, it’s never too late to wish you the best of everything—always.

I didn’t want to throw you off and actually send your card on time. This way, you know it’s from me! Hope you had a good one.

I didn’t know whether to send you a handwritten letter, an email, a Facebook message, a text, a tweet, or a voice message. It took me a whole day to decide, so I ended up running late. Here, happy belated birthday wishes to you!

I can’t say enough how sorry I am for the late wishes on your birthday this year. Time simply got away from me on this one, my friend!

It seems you’ve been blessed with everything apart from a punctual birthday message from me. I hope you had a glorious day. Belated happy birthday, faithful friend.

Happy birthday to a warm, understanding, kind, fun and special friend. (See? Wasn’t that worth waiting for?)

Happy belated birthday to you. Thank you for being a beautiful and understanding person. I hope the year ahead comes with answered prayers and breakthroughs. You are a phenomenal person.

Somehow, I lost track of time, and I seem to have missed your special day. I am so sorry. I hope that it was spectacular. Belated happy birthday!

Happy belated birthday, Dear. Life is so busy nowadays, and I’m forgetful as always. I hope you’re enjoying a lot with your friends and family!