In this section
How does a Naming Ceremony differ to a Christening?
How do you choose your Naming Ceremony congregation?
Can we involve our other children in the Naming Ceremony?
What is a Naming Ceremony?
What is a Naming Ceremony? A Naming Ceremony gives you a personalised, meaningful opportunity to celebrate – and welcome – your new addition to the family. It is a non-religious alternative to a formal Christening and is a way to officially name your child in front of your loved ones.
A Naming Ceremony will always be written entirely from scratch; each and every ceremony will be tailored around the family. They can also include any symbolic acts that might mean something to you and your family; this could include Sand Ceremonies, tree-planting or hand and foot printing.
During the ceremony, the parents will state their commitment to their child, thank their family and friends and announce their hopes for the child’s life.
This is what makes them so popular: they are a truly unique way to share your dreams and aspirations for your child’s future.
What can a Naming Ceremony be used for?
Essentially, Naming Ceremonies are all about welcoming a new addition to your family.
This could be a newborn child, step-children or an adopted child; the ceremony is suitable for babies, toddlers and older children. Whoever the Naming Ceremony is for, at its core the intention is to create a space where families and communities can come together to unite and bond, all in the name of this special person.
What are the benefits of a celebrant-led Naming Ceremony?
The benefits of a celebrant-led Naming Ceremony are enormous.
First of all, a Naming Ceremony will always be built around your family and their individual story. This adds a whole new dimension to the service, and provides a level of meaning and memories that cannot be found in a set script service.
Your celebrant will work with you to create the perfect ceremony. They will use their experience leading other ceremonies of this type, as well as their innate ability to listen and respond to your family needs, brought together with their confident communication and presentation skills to deliver a service that is totally befitting your little one.
Naming Ceremonies can also be an incredibly cathartic experience for children who are being brought into your family, such as step and adopted children. Officially announcing their place in your family to your loved ones is an important step, and one that will mean the world to the child.
Can a Naming Ceremony be religious?
Naming Ceremonies are usually not held in a church; however, due to the flexible nature of the ceremony, you do have the option to include or not include religious content.
If you want to incorporate religious content to your ceremony, it is important that you check with your chosen celebrant to make sure they are willing to do so.
Who can conduct a Naming Ceremony?
There are no legal restrictions for Naming Ceremonies, and so you can keep the ceremony “in the family” and have the service organised entirely by the parents.
However, most people opt to use a celebrant. A celebrant will help you write and arrange the ceremony, and then will lead all proceedings on the day.
You can browse our extensive range of celebrants in our Celebrant Directory.