A Humanist Naming Ceremony can be almost anything you want it to be.  They  are not solely reserved for babies (although most of them involve tiny humans) but can be crafted into the personal celebration that you want it to be.

My job is to get to know you and your family and get a clear picture of what you want from the day – formal, relaxed, traditional, modern, sentimental, wacky….whatever you want, I aim to deliver.  We can even involve your fur babies!  I will create a bespoke script working closely with you to get it just right and then I will conduct your ceremony on the day.

What to expect       To start the ball rolling for your ceremony, you can email me with you query.  Following that I offer a complimentary no-obligation telephone/ Skype/ WhatsApp call so that you can ask any questions.

If you are happy to proceed, the next step would be for me to visit you / have a Skype meeting to discuss ideas, poems, symbolic actions, promises for parents/guideparents (as many as you like) and any other requirements. By the end of the meeting, you should have a clear idea of what is going to happen and I will have a good understanding of what sort of ceremony you might like.  Then, I will begin creating your bespoke script in preparation for the exciting part…the big day!

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Below are some examples of how naming ceremonies are used:

A naming ceremony is a beautiful way to welcome a baby or  new family member through adoption or the blending of families.  Songs, poems, readings, symbolic actions and even interpretive dance are all great ways to make this day personal and special to you.

Trans or non-binary people can have a ceremony to celebrate their identity and the name they wish to be known by.  Your name is so important to who you are.  Such a significant step in your journey deserves to be as unique and individual as you would like.

People going through fertility issues may wish to have a ceremony to allow friends and family members to show their support them and mark a significant step in their journey – the decision to have IVF / transfer day / successful or unsuccessful treatment / sharing the results of the 20 week scan / baby shower.

It is also important to commemorate little ones who are loved very much but who never got to live.  The loss of that tiny person and the life you were going to share is heartbreaking.  Some find comfort in gathering friends and family, or even holding a ceremony privately, to officially name their child and share heartfelt words.

**Symbolic actions – these can be as big or as small as you like.  However, I do not conduct ceremonies where non-biodegradable balloons or living creatures are released due to the negative impact on surrounding wildlife**

** Please note that I do not read scripts prepared or written by other people.  Each script is designed for the family who request it and to ensure that delivery is in keeping with the standards and values of both Humanist Ceremonies and myself as the Celebrant.  The only exception to this being the need to cover for a fellow Humanist Celebrant who is unable to attend a ceremony**