A humanist naming or welcoming ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of a baby or child into a family without it having to be a religious ceremony, to honour the child as a unique individual, and to formally offer promises of ongoing love and support.

For many people today, a religious christening is not a appropriate choice, but it is still important for the family to gather, to welcome the child, to name him or her, and perhaps give particular adults special responsibilities. You don’t have to be a humanist to have a humanist naming ceremony – they simply offer a meaningful, personal and non-religious way for people to celebrate and welcome their children.

As a humanist celebrant, it is my role to help you create a unique ceremony through which you and your family can express their joy and their hopes for the new arrival.

A naming ceremony can be a perfect way to celebrate the birth of your baby, but can also be special way to welcome older children, an adoptive child or step-children. Naming ceremonies are chosen by all kinds of families: same or mixed-gender couples, married or unmarried, single parents, adoptive parents, and step-parents. In the case of an older child, it might be called a welcoming ceremony.

A humanist naming or welcoming ceremony can take place at any time, indoors or outdoors and in most locations. The ceremony might include details about the family – as much or as little as you wish, the story of your baby’s arrival and development since, vows or commitments from parents, maybe grandparents, and special adults (guide-parents/supportive adults etc). It may include an actual naming, an explanation of the choice of name, the presenting of a symbolic gift such as the planting of a tree, the lighting of candles, or the release of balloons. There may be music and readings, and family and friends can take part in whatever way you wish.  Siblings can play an important part too!

It is a very personal and frequently a very moving occasion. Often parents and supporting adults write their own promises, but I can provide suggestions and examples if you wish. These can be read from a card, or I can say them with you repeating them, or they can be phrased as questions and you can answer ‘I will’ or ‘I do’ as you wish.

Naming or welcoming ceremonies have no legal significance, which means their sole purpose is to allow family and friends to welcome and celebrate a new arrival. It is perfectly possible to have a ceremony without an actual naming, for instance where an older child is being adopted, or where two families are coming together.

If you would like to know more and possibly make a booking, please feel free to contact me with no obligation. Then if you are happy to do so we will arrange a meeting, probably at your house, so we can get the ball rolling.

I contribute a percentage of each ceremony fee received to Humanists UK as a levy towards celebrants’ training, quality standards and to the promotion and development of Humanists UK, Humanist Ceremonies Network.