Ideas and inspiration
Stories that showcase how humanist celebrants craft naming ceremonies to celebrate beginnings, adventures ahead, and belonging.
7 Tips for Planning a Summer Naming Ceremony
A Humanist naming ceremony is a non-religious way to welcome a new child into your family and community. It’s a celebration of love, family, and identity, where parents and loved...
What is a humanist naming ceremony and how is it different from a christening?
Welcoming a new baby into your family is a momentous occasion, and many families wish to celebrate this milestone with a special ceremony. A humanist naming ceremony and a christening...
How to Plan a Non-religious Naming Ceremony: A Step-by-Step Guide
A naming ceremony is a meaningful and non-religious way to welcome a child into the world, celebrate their arrival, and surround them with love and support from family and friends....
Is a humanist naming ceremony the right choice for your family?
Welcoming a new child into your family is one of the most important milestones in your life, and many parents seek a special way to mark this profound new chapter....
6 Top Tips for Planning a Summer Naming Ceremony
Welcoming a new child into your family is a momentous occasion, filled with joy and love. A Humanist naming ceremony offers a personal and non-religious way to honour this significant...
Friendship, fireworks, and fun – A humanist naming ceremony for older children
Laura and Jason, with help from their celebrant Sue, created a fun and meaningful humanist naming ceremony for their children, Peggy and Ronnie, with music, promises and, of course, cake....
A humanist naming ceremony for two brothers
Alastair and Kat wanted a humanist naming ceremony for their two boys, but there were times when it seemed like this would be impossible. Cancelled first due to Covid and...
5 Tips for planning a naming ceremony in spring
A humanist naming ceremony is a joyful non-religious event which welcomes and celebrates a child joining your family. This is a momentous life occasion, you and your child deserve a...
Kirsty and David chose a humanist naming ceremony, packed with personal touches, to celebrate the birth of their daughter, Jessica. Their road to parenthood wasn’t easy, especially as David’s beloved...
A personal naming ceremony to welcome a very special IVF baby into the family.
Two mums, two girls and one unique, humanist naming ceremony
After having twin girls at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Tanya and Steff were excited to formally introduce them to the family via their naming ceremony.
What is a humanist naming ceremony?
A humanist naming ceremony is a way of celebrating and welcoming a new addition to your family. They're perfect for babies, adopted children, and step-children. Read to find out more...
What is a guide parent and what is their role?
A naming ceremony is an opportunity for you to welcome your child into your family and wider circle of friends. It's also the perfect time for you to ask people...
What’s the difference between a christening and a naming ceremony?
A humanist naming ceremony is an inclusive, non-religious celebration for welcoming a child into your family in a way that is personal and meaningful to you.
Poems for a humanist naming ceremony
A humanist naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration for welcoming a child into the family and giving them their name. Families often choose to include the reading of a favourite...
Naming ceremonies | Non-religious rituals and symbolic actions
Many families include rituals and symbolic actions in a ceremony to give meaning, structure, and inclusivity. For example, inviting all guests to write a promise to your child can be...
Ten ideas for your child’s naming ceremony
Planning a naming ceremony is great fun, but it can be difficult to come up with ideas to make the day special. We’re sharing 10 ideas for a naming ceremony,...
What happens at a humanist naming ceremony?
Award-winning humanist celebrant Jane Blackman explains what happens at a humanist naming ceremony. Why hold a naming ceremony? The arrival of a new baby, adopted child, or stepchild into your...
Name change | Naming ceremony for a teenager
Fifteen-year-old Emily made the decision to change her name to Billie. When she learnt about Humanism as part of looking at different worldviews, she became interested in the idea of...
A socially distanced naming ceremony
A humanist naming ceremony is the ideal alternative to a Christening for families who wish to mark the occasion in a way that isn’t religious. A naming ceremony focuses on...
An online naming ceremony celebrated with bubbles
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK lockdown and social distancing rules have meant that celebrants and families have needed to find creative ways to hold humanist ceremonies. Humanist naming celebrant,...
