A baby naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration when a child is “officially” named. The naming ceremony has no legal status but has become increasingly popular with parents who do not want a religious christening or baptism.

There are three types of naming ceremonies:

◇Ceremonies Organized by the Parents. This is the least formal and, in some opinions, the most personal style of naming ceremony. The parents write and lead the ceremony themselves at home or in a venue such as a hired function room in a hotel. As the procedure has no legal status, parents are free to style the ceremony in any way that they please.

◇Ceremonies Organized by a Private Company. There are many private companies which offer a number of naming ceremony packages that vary in cost depending on the level of individuality required. The company writes and styles the ceremony and a trained individual acts as the celebrant and conducts the ceremony. The company will present the parents with a certificate as a keepsake of the day. Alternatively, a cheaper option offered by most companies is a planning service, where the ceremony is planned for the parents to conduct themselves, without an officiant.

◇Civil Naming Ceremonies. This government-led scheme, offered by most local authorities, provides parents with the opportunity to host a civil naming ceremony in an approved venue in their area. An individual from the local registration service, acting as a celebrant instead of a registrar, conducts the ceremony. The parents are able to select an approved local venue which has the correct fire and safety standards and public liability insurance for the ceremony, for example the local register office or a hotel. The parents may receive a certificate as a keepsake of the day at the end of the ceremony.

■General Considerations

◇A naming celebration usually takes place a few months after the baby was born.

◇Some individuals may be asked to be “supporting adults”, instead of godparents, and their role should be undertaken with equal commitment as that of a godparent.

◇The parents should send invitations to the guests.

◇The parents usually serve a reception after the ceremony with some food and drinks. It is popular to serve a naming cake (similar to a christening cake) at the reception.

◇Guests should be properly dressed, coordinating with the formality of the invitation and venue.

◇Many guests choose to take a gift for the baby.

■The Ceremony

No matter which type of ceremonies you choose—leading the ceremony by yourselves, hiring a private company with an officiant, or opting for a government-approved civil naming ceremony—the format is roughly the same. The following is an outline and some guidance on the format of a naming ceremony:

◇A naming ceremony usually follows the following order: an introduction, a reading, the formal announcement of the baby’s name, the parents’ promise, the supporting adults’ promise followed by another reading.

◇The parents and supporting adults (equivalent of godparents) make a promise to care for and support the baby.

◇There are usually two readings by relatives or close friends of the family; many parents also choose to involve the grandparents in the ceremony.

◇At the end of the ceremony—when led by a local government representative or hired officiant—the parents are presented with a certificate.

◇A naming ceremony usually last 30 minutes, depending on the length of the readings.

■Naming Parties

Many parents would like to host a naming party rather than leading a ceremony to celebrate the birth of their babies. Naming parties have become increasingly popular social occasions where the parents invite family and friends to celebrate together.

There is no set formula about how to host a naming party. It may be a casual drinks’ party, a formal lunch, a small get-together with very close friends or a garden party. The gatherings also called naming days.