You can find out some general information about Naming Ceremonies here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIPzuBeIgDg

But as each naming ceremony is unique, you might want to carry on reading about my approach below.

A humanist naming  ceremony is a great way to welcome your baby into your family and circle of friends.

A naming ceremony can suit many occasions from the arrival of a new born baby, to the arrival of an adopted child or children. It’s not uncommon for it to coincide with a birthday party.  

Each naming ceremony is unique to the family. There is no set pattern or script. And, if baby is asleep during it, or your child would rather spend time on the swings or slide than sit still and hear your aspirations for them, well, that’s all part of the fun.

A typical naming ceremony might last approximately 20-30 minutes and include

• a welcome to the guests;
• the naming of the child and the significance of the choice(s) of name(s)
• some thoughts on parenting and family life with readings or poems read by family or friends;
• your promises / aspirations for your child;
• presentation of the support/guide  parents and their role;
• It is your day, so you can also include music, readings, a small performance if you have a big enough, extrovert family!

Some families also like to include other symbolic acts (planting of a tree, mingling of sands) . Such symbolic acts sometimes help to include other children (siblings, cousins, family friends). It is not at all unusual for this wonderful event to melt into a big party afterwards. You can read more of the kinds of things families include here: https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/namings/blog/ten-ideas-for-your-childs-naming-ceremony/

You can hold a naming ceremony wherever you wish. Back gardens and kitchens are common, but if you want to hire a marquee or arrange for everyone to turn up in the local park with picnic blankets, then that’s fine too.

My fee for 2024 is £350.00 + Travel (if venue is more than 10 miles from home).

  The fee includes:

• an initial phone call to discuss your wishes
• an introductory meeting to get to know each other and for me to learn what kind of ceremony you want
• writing a unique ceremony with as many email edits as it takes to get it right for you
• my services on the day
• a presentation copy of the script for you to keep and a certificate marking the day and for your child to keep

If this sounds like what you would like, please get in touch Kate.domaille@humanistceremonies.org.uk OR 07792 821550

Kate wrote a beautiful, personalised ceremony for us and conducted it with great warmth and professionalism on the day. She was the celebrant for our wedding 4 years ago and it meant a lot that she was able to conduct the naming ceremony for our son. She takes care to get to know us and understand what is important to us and she reflects this in her ceremony. We hope to see her again for another joyful celebration! (Bryony & Giles, with Milo  – Winchester, Spring 2023)

We just wanted to say a huge thank you for the gorgeous ceremony that you gave to Faye for her naming day. It meant the world to us that you could be there for both of our daughters on their special occasions and so many of our family and friends commented on how nice the ceremony was and how beautiful the words were” (October, 2019)

What’s in a Naming Ceremony?