A naming ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the birth of your child and welcoming the new arrival into the family and the wider community.
It is also an opportunity to declare before family and friends, your promise to be as good a parent as you can, and for supporting adults and relatives who will play an important role in your child’s life to confirm their special relationship with them.
It’s a unique occasion for everyone to feel involved as they pledge their love and support for your child’s future development and provides parents with an alternative to a religious Christening.
Naming Ceremonies have six essential sections:
- introduction and welcome
- readings
- naming of the child (or children)
- parent’s promises
- promises by supporting adults
- closing words
There are many ways to make your ceremony a very special and unique event and our team will be happy to discuss all the options open to you to help assist you create and develop your tailor-made ceremony to your personal requirements.
A souvenir certificate, called a Record of the Ceremony, is signed by parents, supporting adults, and the celebrant.
Naming Ceremonies can be held at the Burns Monument Centre, Kay Park, Kilmarnock, or at other venues in East Ayrshire as agreed between the couple, the venue owner, and the Registration Services Manager.
Getting the best from your Naming Ceremony
Think about the promises you would like to make to your child. Try to have promises that have a special meaning for you, and ask your Supporting Adults to do the same.
Choose your supporting adults with care. Ideally, they should be people who will see your child regularly and can have a good and positive influence in your child’s life.
Being asked to be a Supporting Adult is an honour, but is it a role that carries responsibilities, so talk to them about the promise they feel able to make.
Ask grandparents if they would like to be involved. They are likely to be important people in your child’s life. You may also choose to include a reference to absent friends and family.
Consider presenting a special gift to your child during the ceremony. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something for your child to keep and treasure in years to come.
Make the ceremony suit your needs and feelings; this is one of the great pleasures of a Naming Ceremony, a wonderful opportunity to create an occasion unique to you and your child through the promises and readings you choose.
Naming Ceremonies are not just for babies, children of any age can have one. You may wish to include your older children in the Ceremony as well as your new child.
Please note Naming Ceremonies do not have legal status. They are simply something that you, as parents, choose to do as a public gesture of love and commitment to your child. Unlike a birth certificate, which is a compulsory legal document, the Record of the Ceremony, cannot be used as proof of identification. Neither is the ceremony legally binding on those who take part in it.