Get a name board. It looks classier and can easily be removed and transported instead of taking the boat someplace, when it needs to be refurbished. If you refinish the transom at some point, you don't have to mess with the name that is painted on.
When you sell the boat, you keep the name board. On my most recent boat I used the old name board for patterns (rounded stern, compound curves) and then mailed them back to the previous owner.
This looks like a very special boat, so, yes, go with real gold leaf. It's not that expensive and you will always be proud of it.
Scott Hayes did mine (
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