Child naming ceremony

What is a naming ceremony?

This is a special way of celebrating the birth of your child and welcoming him or her into the family and the wider community. It’s also an opportunity to promise, before family and friends, that you will be as good a parent as you can. Adult friends or relatives can also confirm their special relationship with your child. It’s a unique occasion for everyone to feel involved as they pledge their love and support for your child’s future development. A naming ceremony for your child/children can be held months, or even years, after their birth.

What happens at a naming ceremony?

All naming ceremonies have six essential sections:

introduction and welcome
reading
naming of the child (or children)
parents’ promises
promises by supporting adults
closing words.

We have a standard format for the ceremony, but you may like to add any of the following:

reasons for the names
hopes for the child’s future
parents’ promises to each other
grandparents’ promises
absent guests
further readings
presentation of a gift to the child.

The parents, supporting adults and the celebrant sign a souvenir record of the ceremony (please note that neither the ceremony nor the souvenir document has any legal standing).

There are many ways to make your child’s ceremony a very personal and special event. It will last between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the number of readings and options you have previously agreed with the Registrar.

Who can arrange a naming ceremony?

Any parent or anyone with parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child can arrange the ceremony. Parents do not need to be married to each other and it may be possible to have a naming ceremony after the parents’ wedding ceremony for a double celebration!

How much does it cost?

The fee is the same no matter how many children are being named, and includes the pre-ceremony consultation, the ceremony itself and souvenir documents. Please see the final page for the list of current fees.

Where can we have the ceremony?

The ceremony can be held in your own home, following a satisfactory risk assessment, or in a Registration Office. There are also several venues in the area which are happy to host such ceremonies.

Who will conduct the ceremony?

An Authorised Registrar or Assistant Registrar, in their capacity as an officer of Scottish Borders Council, will be happy to conduct your child naming ceremony (please note that child naming ceremonies can be conducted for more than one of your children at the same time).

Please remember that a child naming ceremony does not mean that you can legally change the name of your child. To legally change the name of your child, please contact a Registrar to discuss the Change of Name procedure.