Naming Ceremonies

Our Naming Ceremonies are specifically not religious, but speak of Love, Family and the Child. They are perfect for Families who are not aligned with any particular religion or faith group.

A Naming Ceremony is not just for babies; children of any age can have a Naming Ceremony. One of our experienced Celebrants, (Lay Officiant, Minister or Chaplain), will be pleased to perform your Naming Ceremony for your son or daughter. All of our Celebrants are highly trained and qualified; they all share the goal of providing you with a memorable ceremony and special day.

Most Naming Ceremonies are held in homes or other suitable venue like a hotel, reception facility, etc. Some families even hold the ceremony in a park or other natural setting. The ceremony can be held at a location and time convenient to all concerned. We usually ask the Celebrant closest to you to conduct the ceremony.

You may wish to include your older children in the Naming Ceremony as well as your new baby. The Ceremony is the perfect opportunity to declare your promises to your child before family and friends. It's also the perfect opportunity to involve relatives, such as grandparents, and maybe other adult friends. It is nice to have supporting adults involved, allowing them to confirm their special relationship with your child and share their promises at the ceremony in front of you and the guests.

A family has several options:

1. They can choose a Naming ceremony from below and simply use the ceremony as is.
2. They can choose a ceremony and then personalize the ceremony to make it uniquely theirs. We have a number of Religious or Secular (Non-Religious) Readings that you may choose from, or provide one of your own.
3. Some families even write their own Baptism or Naming Ceremony; the choice is yours.

No matter which option you choose, we will help you find the right ceremony to create the perfect celebration your family and friends will cherish and remember always.

Sample Ceremonies

Naming and Baptism Ceremony

This is a combined Naming and Baptism Ceremony for those who want a naming ceremony but need a Baptism certificate for potential school enrollment. This is a warm and friendly ceremony which is simple in it's approach. Please feel free to cut and paste other material into the ceremony and change it to reflect gender. This is our most requested ceremony.

Welcome

Welcome to each one of you. My name is ___ and on behalf of [Dad] and [Mom], I want to say how pleased they are that you are here to share in this special celebration with them.

Ceremony Explained

Just before we begin it is important to note that this [Child] is not being baptized into any specific Church Denomination, however Churches recognize the Baptism Certificate. The nice thing about this is that when a [Child] is older and decides to move closer to a faith community, he will be able to present herself as a Baptized person. Now to our ceremony.

Ceremony

We are here today because [Dad] and [Mom] want to express their joy in the birth of [Child]. They want to officially welcome [Child] into their family unit, and to the wider family of relatives and friends. They would like each of you to share their joy on this happy occasion, and they also look forward to your continuing friendship, interest and involvement in the years ahead.

A [Child] brings it's own unique personality and adds new dimension to the family unit. [Dad] and [Mom] will always find something new to laugh at or admire. They are also aware of the great responsibility that is now theirs. A great deal of their lives will be involved in caring for their [Child] and guiding [Child] through the many trails of life.

Now I would like to read a lovely poem.

May All Your Wishes Come True

May all your wishes come true
May you always do for others, and let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung
And may you stay forever young
May you grow to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth, and see the light that's surrounding you
May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong
And may you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy, and may your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift
May your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young.

Naming

Names are an important part of everyone's life. They give each and everyone of us individuality.

(Parents to stand)
(Question) [Dad] and [Mom], what name have you chosen for your child?
(Answer)

(Speak to child) [Child], your name was chosen with great care. It was chosen just for you. We all hope that you will inherit the best traits of both your parents. Our wish for you this day is that you will grow into a caring person who is healthy and happy. We wish you wisdom to help guide you through life.

Questions for Parents

Now, some questions for the parents.
(Question) [Dad] and [Mom], will you as parents care for [Child], keep her/him clothed, sheltered and protect her/him, for as long as she needs you as best you can?
(Answer) We will.

(Question) Will you comfort [Child] when she/he is distressed and laugh with her/him when she's/he's happy?
(Answer) We will.

(Question) Will you as parents try in every way possible to raise [Child] in such a way that she/he will feel loved and secure?
(Answer) We will.

Question for Witnesses

Now, a question for the witnesses.
(Question) Will you the witnesses do everything in your power to encourage and support [Dad] and [Mom] in their awesome role as parents?
(Answer) We will.

The Baptism ( Please pick one)

1. [Child] I baptize you in the name of The Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
2. or:[Child] you are baptised with water as a symbol of the common life which is in you and in the world about you. We welcome you to the community of life on earth and dedicate you to everything which is beautiful and truthful and good.
3. or: [Child] you are baptised in the name of the God and in the spirit of Jesus. We welcome you as a member of Christ's church and of the community of life on earth. May all be well with you in your journey through life.

(Return Child to parents)
[Child] today we officially welcome you. We wish you long life and much happiness. May you face all challenges that come to you as a person of integrity. May you bring great joy to your parents and your grandparents.

To your extended family and friends, may you contribute to making this world a better and happier place for all of us, and may the Lord bless you and make your life a blessing to the world. Amen.

Closing

I want now to present [Dad] and [Mom] with this certificate of Baptism. On behalf of [Dad], [Mom] and [Child], I would like to thank you all for taking part in this ceremony. Please enjoy the rest of the day.

---

You may choose from one of the ceremonies listed here, or you may craft your own ceremony. We offer the following completed ceremonies:

• Our Traditional Ceremony
• A Shorter Ceremony
• Naming and Baptism Ceremony

All of our ceremonies may be modified to your requirements. We also provide a collection of Religious Readings or Non-Religious Readings which may be incorporated into any of our ceremonies.

Return to Top

More information about our Naming Ceremonies.

Can the ceremony be bilingual?

Yes in some communities. Ask the office for information.

Is a meeting or rehearsal necessary?

Not normally. However you may consult with your celebrant by phone and email if you have questions for clarification.

How long is the ceremony?

The length of ceremonies varies. Budget anywhere from 15 minutes to a half an hour depending on the number of options and changes you make to the ceremony.

What does the Celebrant need from you on the day of the celebration?

If you make changes to a ceremony they will need the final draft of the ceremony 14 days prior. Then just a few words with you before to the ceremony to go over last minute details and a small bowl of water for the ceremony.

Can I decorate my home?

Yes. Most people have candles, flowers, and a small container of water. Some place memorial pictures or special pictures of baby. Have a camera handy!

Is there a Souvenir Record of the event?

Yes, a beautiful souvenir Certificate is presented at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Do these Ceremonies have legal status?

Unlike birth registration, where you receive a copy of the birth certificate which is a compulsory legal requirement, these ceremonies are simply a celebration that you as parents choose to do as a public gesture of love and commitment to your child. The certificate you receive may in some cases help your child enroll in certain schools later in life.

I have two children, do I pay an additional fee?

There is an additional administration fee of $20.00 for each additional child. Each receives a ceremony certificate.

Can we organize a Ceremony on short notice?

Usually the answer to this is yes, but is dependent on the availability of the Celebrant and venue you have selected.

Can we hold a Ceremony at the same time as we get married?

Yes. A Naming Ceremony can be held at the same time.

Return to Top

Return to Top