Naming Day Ceremony

Did you know? -

The Naming Day is a non religious celebration of a baby or older child’s life. More than one child’s life can be celebrated at the same time e.g. baby and older sibling(s).

A Naming can be held any place you wish.

If you decide to assign Godparents to your child, this can be announced on the day.

Some people prefer the name of 'Mentor' or Guardian' rather than Godparent.

You can get a friend or relative to conduct an informal ‘ceremony’ or you can just have big get together so that people can interact with the Baby and/or child

The day can be arranged how you like with speeches and poems if you so wish. etc.

Most, if not all council registration offices can provide you with a ‘Celebrant’ to conduct the Naming day ceremony if you wish, and are normally well prepared on what to do. You are normally required to provide the birth certificate when booking the ceremony.

If you use an official Celebrant, then you normally receive a certificate to remember the occasion although nothing will have legal status.

A Naming Day ceremony does not require the parents to be married and can also be for welcoming new children into the family, which happens if parents remarry.

Supporting Adults are asked to think about the promises that they are will make to the child and to remember that being asked to be a Supporting Adult is an honour, but it also carries responsibilities.

Grandparents are important and can be involved in the ceremony if they wish and can make a declaration of support and commitment to the child(ren).

A naming day is a common practice in many European countries

To take full advantage of the symbolism of naming days, it is best to understand what the name means and its character. (See our Baby names and meanings scroll)

You can also use the Naming Day to :-

Announce the name(s) of the baby that have been chosen

Make promises of commitment to the child

Choose other adults to provide for the child (normally Godparents are chosen, but this is not essential in a Naming Day)

I have a nice range of Handmade Naming Day cards you can personalise.

These articles are for information only and I cannot guarantee their accuracy