What is a baby naming ceremony?
What is a Baby Naming Ceremony?
Hey there, soon-to-be parents (or maybe you’ve already welcomed your little one into the world)! Whether you’re looking for a meaningful way to celebrate your baby’s arrival or you’re thinking about how to create lasting memories with your closest family and friends, a baby naming ceremony might be just the thing you need.
At its heart, a baby naming ceremony is a celebration of your little one’s name and their introduction to the world, your family and community. It’s a moment of joy, connection and a little bit of magic! This is the perfect opportunity to officially name your baby in front of family and friends and express your hopes, dreams for their future. Think about what would you like to tell your baby, what memories are you looking forward to creating and so on.
It is an alternative option to a religious ceremony such as a christening. You may choose to have your baby’s naming ceremony around the same time as your baby’s first birthday so that the ceremony is intertwined with their birthday celebrations.
A baby naming ceremony is also a wonderful time to celebrate those who are significant in your baby’s life such as other family members and if you have selected individuals to act as supporters (a bit like Godparents) for your baby. You may like to include readings, poems and/or songs as well as a significant symbolic ritual.
I know you’ve got a million things to think about, from sleepless nights to planning a nursery (trust me – I’ve been there!). But taking the time to plan a baby naming ceremony can be a beautiful way to mark the start of your little one’s journey and welcome them into the world with love, joy and community.
So, let’s chat about what a baby naming typically includes, how to find the perfect celebrant to make the day extra special (hopefully it’s me!) and the right questions to ask.
What does a Baby Naming Ceremony include?
While baby naming ceremonies vary greatly, they all have a similar theme: celebrating life, love, and the unique personality of your baby.
Now, let's break down what a typical baby naming ceremony includes:
1. The ceremony itself
The ceremony usually kicks off with a welcoming message where the celebrant speaks about the significance of names, family and the role your child will play in your lives. There may be readings or poems that hold meaning to you. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your values and share your wishes for your baby’s future.
In terms of structure, you can go as formal or as informal as you like — it’s your day, after all! Whether you want it to be a quiet, intimate event or a big celebration with all your loved ones, the ceremony will be the core of your day.
2. Symbolic Rituals
Rituals can be a beautiful addition to the ceremony, giving it even more meaning. These rituals could vary based on your family traditions or personal preferences. Here are a few ideas for symbolic rituals that could be part of your ceremony:
Candle Lighting: This is a lovely way to symbolise the light your baby brings into your life. You could have one candle representing your baby and two others (perhaps for the parents or the family) to light it together.
Tree Planting: A tree planting ritual is a meaningful way to represent your baby’s growth and the hope that they will flourish in life. You could plant a tree in your garden or even a small indoor plant as a living keepsake of the day.
Handfasting: While traditionally used in weddings, this is a ritual where the parents’ hands are tied together with a ribbon or cord. It's a lovely symbol of your unity as a family and your commitment to raising your child with love and care.
3. Celebrating with loved ones
One of the best parts of a baby naming ceremony is celebrating with your closest friends and family. After the formalities are over, you can enjoy a lovely meal, cake, and presents. It’s a time for everyone to come together and show their support for your new little one.
A baby naming ceremony doesn’t have to be a grand affair, but having those important people around you to share in the celebration is what makes it so special.
Finding the right celebrant for your Baby Naming Ceremony
Now, if you’ve decided a baby naming ceremony is the right choice for you, the next step is finding the perfect celebrant to guide you through the process. This is where it can get a bit tricky, as there are many options out there and you want to find someone who truly feels like the right fit.
At Made with Love Celebrations, whilst I am a wedding celebrant, I’m also all about creating bespoke baby naming ceremonies that are personal, meaningful and full of love.
If you went for a celebrant-led wedding ceremony, you may choose to ask your wedding celebrant to deliver your baby naming ceremony – this is a popular choice for couples as it creates a sense of circularity.
Alternatively, a quick internet search will lead you to many celebrants who deliver naming ceremonies, but remember just because they are on page 1, does not necessarily mean they are the right celebrant for you – they may just be a SEO whizz! Don’t be afraid to look beyond page 1 to find someone who is your vibe.
Recommendations are of course a great way to find a celebrant. Perhaps you attended a baby naming ceremony recently and you thought that the celebrant was just your cuppa tea! Or maybe you know a lovely wedding celebrant, who doesn’t deliver baby namings, but can recommend someone who does.
Questions to ask your celebrant
Before booking in your celebrant for your baby naming ceremony, it may be worthwhile asking them the following questions:
1. How does the process work?
Celebrants are as individual as the families they work with – there is no one size fits all! However, most will meet with you, in person or virtually. They will ask about your vision for your baby’s naming ceremony, discuss ideas for readings, symbolic rituals and other significant people you may want included in your ceremony. Following this meeting, your celebrant may send out a questionnaire which will require you to think a little more deeply about your baby’s naming ceremony, your journey to parenthood and other elements such your baby’s name. They may then send you their script and you may be welcome to make some edits up to a certain point before your baby’s naming ceremony. They will then arrive on the day, hopefully make you feel at ease and deliver the ceremony with warmth, love and joy and ideally some pizzaz!
2. Can they include XYZ?
Just like a celebrant-led wedding ceremony, your baby naming ceremony is totally personal to you – it can include whatever you want. Think about what is meaningful to you and your celebrant will magic this into your ceremony.
3. What happens if they are ill on the day?
Most celebrants have a network of other glorious celebrants who may be able to cover them on the day.
4. What do they charge and are there any additional expenses?
Just like wedding celebrants, celebrants who deliver baby namings will vary in price. Some will charge for travel beyond a certain distance and some will charge for equipment needed to perform a symbolic ritual. Some celebrants may charge more depending on the date, for example, if they are performing your baby naming on a busy summer Saturday they are potentially missing out on a wedding which they can charge more for. Alternatively, they may be willing to charge you less for a Saturday in the winter when they are less busy.
Final thoughts on Baby Naming Ceremonies
A baby naming ceremony is such a beautiful way to mark the beginning of your child’s life and celebrate their arrival with your loved ones. It’s a time for joy, love and reflection, as well as a chance to welcome your little one into the family fold - what matters most is that the ceremony feels true to you and your family.
So, grab a cuppa, take your time and think about what would make your baby’s naming ceremony one to remember. I would love to be a part of that journey with you — after all, there’s no celebration too big or too small to be made with love.
Let’s make this day unforgettable! Contact me here.
