Naming
Ceremonies
I have my heart on my sleeve when it comes to Naming
Ceremonies. I love - love - love them! Every single one
makes me feel like I've acquired another grandchild!
Over the years I've created and officiated over 300
naming ceremonies, each one of which has been a
tremendous pleasure. I've created ceremonies for couples
of all genders, for single parents, for donor babies,
babies born through IVF, and babies birthed by
surrogates.
I've also created many naming ceremonies where, for
various reasons, it hasn't been practical to have an
officiated ceremony. For a Naming Ceremony Script
Service ceremony I create a personal ceremony script and
certificates and the parents or a family member or
friend officiates the ceremony, using my script.
What is a naming ceremony?
A Naming Ceremony (sometimes called a Name-Giving or a
Baby Naming Day) is a way of formally welcoming your
child into the supportive community of family and
friends that will nurture them as they grow. During the
ceremony, the child is formally given their name.
Who is a naming ceremony for?
Naming ceremonies are suitable for
- natural or adopted children of families of all
kinds, including
- heterosexual parent families
- same-sex families
- single-parent families, and
- families where the adults are the guardians of
the child
- A naming ceremony is a powerful way to acknowledge
and support a child who is transitioning
- A variation on a naming ceremony can be used to
embrace a step-child
There is no age limit. You can hold a baby naming
ceremony for a young baby, at any time during the
child's first year, or, as is very common, in
conjunction with the child's first birthday
celebrations, or when the child is older. Each age has
its special characteristics.
Adult Naming/Renaming
Ceremonies
If, as an adult, you have changed your name to reflect
your true gender, or for other reasons, I would be
honoured to create and officiate a meaningful ceremony
to say goodbye to your dead name and celebrate this new
chapter in your life
Combo Ceremonies
You can combine a naming ceremony with your wedding
ceremony (legal marriage or non-legal wedding),
commitment ceremony, or reaffirmation of vows.
Does a Naming Ceremony include
religious content?
A naming ceremony can be seen to be a
non-religious/secular alternative to a Christening or
Baptism. But in many ways it is more than just a
straight secular swap-out for the religious service that
inducts a child into a particular faith. It is an
expression of family unity, family values, and parenting
commitment, so of course you can include religious
content or references, if you wish.
Doing so may be a good compromise where you yourselves
are not religious but someone important to you is. Or it
can be a way of acknowledging dual religious or cultural
heritages within a largely secular ceremony.
A naming ceremony can be held to complement a church
baptism, as part of the christening celebration at home.
I provide a range of different types of Naming
Ceremonies for babies and children. My fee is $400 for
an officiated ceremony for one child, and $225 for a DIY
ceremony.
- Baby Naming Ceremony
- First Birthday Naming Ceremony
- Naming of older children
- Adoption Naming Ceremony
- Naming Ceremony Script Service - a
professionally created ceremony without the expense
of having a celebrant conduct it
Naming
Ceremony Packages
More information about
Types of Naming
Ceremonies
NB My vaccinations against COVID19 and other
transmissible diseases are up to date for
the protection of your child and everyone present
I create each ceremony
specifically for the occasion, so each is a personal
celebration of the birth or adoption of your child
that gives you an opportunity to express your
personal values and your commitment to parenting
your child in front of your family and friends. The
ceremony is extremely flexible. It can be structured
as you wish, and include readings, rituals and
personal recognition of anyone you wish. If you are
a single parent, non-parent guardian, or a same-sex
couple, you can be assured that the ceremony will be
sensitive to your needs and situation. As it will if
your child was donor-conceived or you are
celebrating your child's or your own transition.
What is included in your
Naming Ceremony Package?
On the day
- A ceremony that is
- bespoke and personally written by me (not
templated, not outsourced)
- inclusive, and welcoming of participation from
everyone important to you
- relationship-strengthening
- light-hearted in the appropriate places
- authentic to your beliefs and values
- A bespoke Naming Certificate that includes a
photograph of your child
- 4 bespoke certificates for Godparents and/or
Grandparents
- A beautifully bound keepsake copy of the ceremony
Preparing for your ceremony
- Time spent getting to know your family to ensure
I create a ceremony which perfectly reflects your
needs, your beliefs, your values and the unique
qualities and heritage of the child or person
being named
- Communicating with you by email, text, or phone
- Providing you with information and exploring
with you ideas and opportunities to ensure that
your ceremony fits with the overall style of your
the day but also provides substance
- Preparing and completing all the certificates
- Creating the first draft of the ceremony and
reworking as we finalise it
- Creating the keepsake copy of the ceremony
- Travel to and from the ceremony venue
- Briefing the godparents and other participants
in the ceremony
Some background information on
Naming Ceremonies
Naming ceremonies are sometimes
called secular christenings. A naming ceremony is
ideal for parents who have no religious convictions.
However, where parents believe that children should
choose their own spiritual path and values when they
are mature enough to do so, or where the family
belongs to a denomination that does not believe in
infant baptism, having a naming ceremony allows you to
joyfully welcome your child into your family and have
a religious christening or baptism at a later date if
you wish.
The ceremony itself performs no legal function (but
then, neither does a christening). It does not replace
your legal obligation to register your child's birth
with the Registry Office in your state. Nor is the
appointment of guardians as part of the ceremony legal
and binding. But it does perform a very important
social function.
- It can help you clarify how you want to support
your child as he or she grows
- It is a joyous expression of welcome, both to the
family and to the wider community
- It provides an opportunity to share the wonder,
joy and pride you feel
- It is a reminder of the great responsibility
involved in raising a child
- It is a formal mechanism to appoint godparents
(defined in modern dictionaries as someone who acts
as a godparent or is a sponsor or protector) and
honour other significant adults, such as
grandparents, who will have important roles in the
nurturing and supporting the child
- It provides you, as the parent(s) with an
opportunity to acknowledge your gratitude to
family, friends, and particularly godparents (also
called guardians, sponsors, mentors,
guideparents. life guides or any term you choose)
for their involvement in your child's life
- It provides a formal opportunity for significant
adults to commit to supporting and nurturing the
child and each other.
More information