There is no set structure to be followed; it all depends on what suits you. The ceremony might be short or long, formal or relaxed and involve many guests or just a few.

Although every ceremony is unique, some features tend to occur more frequently than others and a ‘typical’ ceremony might be structured as follows:

• Introductions and welcomes
• Reading or poem
• Information about the child – their arrival, personality, etc.
• Words about the importance and responsibility of parenting
• Parental promises to the child
• Additional reading or poem
• Importance of wider family e.g. grandparents, cousins etc.
• Appointment of guideparents
• Guideparents’ promises
• Reasons for the choice of name
• The naming itself (various forms possible)
• Concluding words

A typical ceremony might last around twenty minutes and include music, readings or poems and perhaps a symbolic act such as planting a tree. As parents you can express your love for your child and publicly pledge your commitment to their welfare.

You can also involve other people who are close to your child. Grandparents sometimes make promises to their grandchild and many an older sibling has stolen the show with their own unique contribution to the event.

Some parents choose to appoint ‘Guideparents’ for their child, rather in the tradition of ‘Godparents’, though they might alternatively be termed ‘Supporting Adults’, ‘Mentors’, or even ‘Oddparents’ or ‘Sparents’! The ceremony is often brought to a close with something upbeat such as a song, blowing bubbles or releasing balloons.

Lastly, I want to round-off this page by re-emphasising the point I made at the start, which is that there really is no fixed format. Even if none of the above works for you, but you still want a naming ceremony,  we can tailor the event to the tiniest detail. The only limit is your imagination (and the laws of physics, of course).