Celebrant-Led Naming Ceremonies: For Baby Naming, Blended Families or Celebrating a New Identity

When a family wants to welcome a child through birth or adoption, but without a religious rite such as a baptism, a celebrant-led naming ceremony can offer a meaningful way to welcome a child and celebrate their name. For a new addition to the family, a naming ceremony can be a wonderful secular alternative to a christening and can include the same sort of symbolism and ritual as that offered by a religious ceremony, as well as songs and poems.

Although a celebrant-led ceremony is perfect for those who wish to omit religion from their ceremony, it is also the ideal alternative for those who would like to include prayers, religious readings or hymns in a naming ceremony, but do not want to hold their ceremony in a place of worship. A celebrant-led naming ceremony is not bound by the same rules as a religious rite performed by a cleric; there are no set scripts or words that have to be included in order to ‘validate’ the ceremony.

A celebrant-led naming ceremony is completely bespoke, created specifically for each family. A number of different elements can be included to make it truly meaningful for the child and their parents or caregivers. There is a great deal of scope to include readings, poems and music within the ceremony as well as the potential to include siblings or other family members as key participants.  Within a celebrant-led naming ceremony, there are also many opportunities to include ritual and symbolism, in the form of candle lighting, sand blending, handfasting or the signing of a certificate, for example.

Parents (as well as siblings, grandparents and caregivers) can pledge their love and support to the child and also to each other. Those who would have been Godparents at a christening can make promises pledge their care and support as guides, mentors or guardians - or whatever title feels most appropriate to those involved.

It is important to note that naming ceremonies aren’t just restricted to young children. They can also provide a meaningful way for a blended family to commemorate their coming together as a unit, with friends and members of the wider family promising to support them. Additionally, naming ceremonies can also serve as a way for an adult to mark a change in their life and share this in a meaningful way with their family and friends; for example, as part of a post-divorce healing ceremony or for a person to mark a transition to a new identity. Family and friends can pledge their commitment to love and encourage their loved one in their new life.

H’s naming ceremony, March 2023

I have a very soft spot for naming ceremonies, as they are occasions filled with joy and hope for a new life ahead. I was recently asked to create a ceremony for a family and their ‘rainbow baby’ ( a baby born after a previous loss). Mum and Dad (I and M) opted to include a naming ceremony as part of their son, H’s first birthday party.

Naming Ceremony Combined With a First Birthday Party

We heard a beautiful poem written by H’s mum, as well as a reading from one of H’s guardians, written below:

Wishing You Many Smiles – Author Unknown

 May life's adventures be exciting and sweet

Filled with love from the friends that you'll meet

You'll soon grow up for time does fly

So cherish each moment as it goes by

From crawling and walking

To toddling and talking

There's no knowing what you'll do next

There's a threshold to cross and a wide open door

And a wonderful world for you to explore

Sleep with the moonbeams and play in the sun

Let your life be a long one and filled with fun

May today and tomorrow and all days hereafter

Be days that are happy and filled with your laughter.

During the ceremony, H’s parents and guardians made their promises to love, support and encourage him, and we also included some light-hearted promises about pledging to buy H the loudest birthday presents and teaching him to sing out of tune!

The family opted to include the creation of a fingerprint tree as part of the naming ceremony, as well as signing a certificate as a reminder of H’s special day. We also listened to a gorgeous song called Guardian, by songwriter and violinist Lindsay Stirling.

All in all, a very special day for H and his family, and one I hope that they will treasure forever.