Naming enquiries and booking
Overview
A naming ceremony is an occasion for parents, family and friends to pledge their love and commitment to a child. It is a way to celebrate the birth of a new baby or to welcome an adoptive child or step-child into a new relationship and to form a bond within an extended family.
The ceremony has no legal status. This is a secular (non-religious) ceremony which allows you to gather family and friends together for an enjoyable and memorable occasion.
Any certificates issued after a ceremony has taken place are purely commemorative.
Naming ceremonies can be arranged by anyone, whether married or not, from any cultural background and with any spiritual or religious beliefs.
There is no age limit to a naming ceremony and more than one individual may be named at the same time.
What happens during the ceremony
The ceremony will:
- welcome the individual into the family or wider community
- announce the names that have been given, and maybe the reasons behind the choice
- involve family and friends in making promises of commitment, and to support their upbringing
The ceremony can include music, poems, gifts, personal vows and promises of your choice, and it usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.
Adults, grandparents and older siblings can offer assurance and guidance through their promises to the child.
Every naming ceremony is personal and tailored to your needs.
You can also combine a naming ceremony with a marriage or civil partnership ceremony, or a renewal of vows ceremony.
Booking your ceremony
To discuss naming ceremonies with a member of the registration team please call the register office on 020 8921 5015.