Naming Ceremonies
A warm welcome for the newest person in the room
A naming ceremony gathers the people who will love a child, says their name out loud for the first time together, and promises them a soft landing. I write each one from scratch, whether the guest of honour is a tiny baby, a toddler on the move, or an older child.
What a naming ceremony can hold
There is no fixed script and no religion required, though a favourite reading or blessing is always welcome. We choose the moments that fit your family.
The story of the name
Who they are named for, how you chose it, what it means. Saying it out loud, in front of everyone, is the heart of the whole thing.
Promises from the grown-ups
Parents, guideparents and grandparents can each make their own promises: the bedtime stories, the honest advice, the standing on the touchline in the rain.
Little rituals, big meaning
A candle lit, a tree planted, wishes written for an eighteenth-birthday box, brothers and sisters given a part to play. Small touches that the photos, and the child, will keep.
Guideparents: the trusted grown-ups
Some families say godparents, some say mentors, some just say "the grown-ups we trust". I like guideparents: the adults who promise to turn up for your child, all the way through. They make their promises in the ceremony too, and in my experience it is the moment that catches people off guard, in the best way.
There is no set number and no rules about who they can be: friends, aunties, neighbours who are practically family. You choose the people; I will help you find the words.
Every family, every shape
Blended families, single parents, two mums, two dads, grandparents doing the raising: families come in every shape, and every shape is welcome here. I happily conduct ceremonies for the LGBTQ+ community.
A naming ceremony can also be a lovely way to knit a new family together: children from earlier chapters can be welcomed and celebrated alongside the newest arrival, each with their own promises made to them.
As with all my ceremonies, I write it with you, and you will know every word before anyone else hears it.
Let's welcome them properly
Tell me about your little one and the day you are picturing, and I will come back to you personally. No obligation, just a friendly conversation.