Baby Naming Ceremony

 

Welcome everyone, I’m Jo Ann and am so excited that (first parent) and (second parent) have asked me to perform this wonderful, loving ceremony for their charming daughter, (child’s name). We thank you for coming today to welcome (child’s name) into her new family. (second parent) and (first parent) are so happy that their family and friends could be here to share your love and your blessings with their beautiful child. And perhaps most importantly, we thank (child’s name) for bringing us all together in joy.

 

During this ceremony we will affirm that the gift of life is a wonderful gift indeed and express our desire that (child’s name) grow to achieve all of life's greatest ideals. Today, together with (second parent) and (first parent), we commit ourselves to (child’s name) and rejoice in the fact that (second parent) and (first parent) have invited us to share with them the best part of their life--their daughter, (child’s name)

 

As (child’s name) continues to grow and blossom, we promise to respect her and afford her every right that each of us deserves, including the right to live a life of freedom, happiness, and love, with the support and honest conversation that she will seek and the nourishment of mind and body that she will need. 

 

Today’s celebration is evidence that (child’s name) will always be sustained by loving parenting and guided by family and friends to become her best possible self.    

 

In a testimony to her parenthood, (second parent) will share her sentiments. 

 

(second parent) speaks:  

 

In a testimony to his parenthood, (first parent) will share his sentiments. 

 

(first parent) speaks:  

 

(second parent) and (first parent), if you could repeat after me:

 

(child’s name), may you have joy in listening and joy in speaking; 

May you have joy in seeing and joy in doing; 

May you have joy in thinking and joy in wondering.  

May your hours be forever bright in play and in work.  

May your days be forever warm with happiness and fulfillment.

And may your life be touched by true friends and devoted family.   

 

THE NAMING

 

(second parent) and (first parent) speak with joy about the love and pride they feel in being parents to (child’s name). Their happiness is also shared with their family and friends, which is why they have invited you here today to celebrate with them.   

 

Naming a child is serious business. To some extent, the chosen name might help determine the child's destiny.  

 

(first parent) and (second parent) have chosen (child’s name) for their daughter’s first name. They specifically chose (child’s name) because [your reasons for the name].  

 

(second parent) and (first parent) have chosen to bestow upon (child’s name), the middle name of [your reasons for the name].

 

Her last name is (last name), which is [your reasons for the name].   

 

(first parent) and (second parent), please name your child. 

 

(second parent) and (first parent):

 

We love you and we proudly name you (child’s name). ((second parent) and (first parent) repeat the words and kiss (child’s name)) 

 

VOWS

 

At this time, we will bear witness to some special promises to (child’s name), the first being from her parents, (second parent) and (first parent).

 

PARENTS VOWS:

 

(second parent) and (first parent), will you be the best, most patient and most loving, parents you possibly can? 

“yes”

 

Will you always love, honor, and respect (child’s name)?

“yes”

 

Will you help her learn to love truth?

“yes”

 

Will you cultivate in her a kind, generous, and sympathetic spirit?

 “yes”

 

Will you teach her that she is stronger than the things she fears?

“yes”

 

Will you encourage her natural courage and curiosity?

“yes”

 

Will you support her when she speak for justice and stands up for what it right?

“yes”

 

Will you model for her a healthy and loving relationship that someday she may enjoy the same?

“yes”

 

Thank you, (second parent) and (first parent). May all your parenting aspirations be met and more.  

 

GOD(Guide) PARENTS VOWS:

 

(first parent) and (second parent) have chosen (guide/god parent), and (guide/god parent), to be god(guide) parents to (child’s name). If you would, please stand. 

 

(first parent) and (second parent) love and respect (guide parents) and feel confident that they will be of great value and helpfulness to (child’s name) in her life and that they will always be there for her. We now ask (guide parents) to publicly recognize their commitments to (child’s name).  

 

Do you, (guide parents), accept the responsibility of being (child’s name)'s godparents?

“yes”  

 

Will you, stay close to (child’s name) and guide her through life, so that she may know the best way you know?

“yes”

 

Will you try to be a good influence by your own way of living?

“yes”

 

Will you encourage (child’s name) to observe worthy principles of living, and treat other people and indeed all creatures, great and small, with respect and dignity?

“yes” 

 

Thank you, (guide parents).  May you gain as much from your special relationship with (child’s name) as she will.

 

GRANDPARENTS VOWS

 

Now I ask (child’s name)’s grandparents, (grandparents’ names) to stand.  

 

(second parent) and (first parent) would like to acknowledge the special relationship between (child’s name) and her grandparents. (second parent) and (first parent) know that (child’s name)’s grandparents will play an extremely important and active role in her life.  

 

Grandparents because of their life experiences and the knowledge gained throughout their lives, have a wealth of exciting tales to tell and adventures to recount. They have stories of people, places and events. Through close relationships with grandparents, children learn their heritage, their history, skills, and many values. 

 

Will you, (grandparents’ names), remain mindful that within this child, (child’s name), there exists an immense and awesome potential that shall emerge as the years pass? 

“yes”

 

Will you always offer (child’s name) a safe and loving refuge?

“yes”

 

Will you trust in her potential and lovingly support her in her ventures?

“yes”

 

Will you guide (child’s name) in your wisdom and offer her counsel whenever she seeks it?    

“yes”

 

Thank you, grandparents. May your days with (child’s name) be long and may you learn from her as you share with her your wisdom.

 

Additionally, (any other family members) would like to say a few words to (child’s name).

 

GIFT- GIVING CEREMONY

 

At this time and with great joy, (grandparents’ names), adoring grandparents of dear (child’s name), will present her with a token that symbolizes a wish for her.  

 

(Grandparents) take turns presenting their token and expressing their wish for (child’s name).)  

They each say, “(child’s name), I present you with this block, which is symbolic of my wish that you ____________________.” 

 

Thank you, Grandparents.

 

And now with joy and love, (guide parents), godparents to dear (child’s name), will present her with a token that symbolizes a wish for her.  

 

(Godparents take turns presenting their token and expressing their wish for (child’s name).)

 

<They each say, “(child’s name), I present you with this block, which is symbolic of my wish that you ____________________.” 

 

Thank you, Godparents.

 

With great joy, (second parent) and (first parent), proud parents of dear (child’s name), will present her with a token that symbolizes a wish for her.

 

((second parent) and (first parent) take turns presenting their token and expressing their wish for (child’s name).)

 

<They each say, “(child’s name), I present you with this block, which is symbolic of my wish that you ____________________.” 

 

Thank you, (second parent) and (first parent).

 

I now invite any of you to tell us of the token you bring and the wish you have for (child’s name).  

(If anyone wishes to share their token and wish, they do so.)

 

Thank you.  

 

(child’s name), may all these and many other treasures be yours.  

 

ANCESTOR CEREMONY

 

To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root. So, in the spirit of remembrance we honor our family present and past. We pay tribute to the importance of family and we celebrate the coming together of these two families. 

 

The ringing of this bell is in memory of all who are no longer with us, especially (departed names). They are much loved and missed. Although they can no longer be seen, they are heard in our thoughts and in our hearts.  In their memory, let us be silent together.

 

((second parent) rings bell) We remember and love you, (departed names).  We honor you; we pass on the light of your life and your love to new generations – to our children - and our children's children. Although (child’s name) was not able to meet you, we will teach her about you, the life you lived and the love you shared, so that she too may know your legacy.  

 

((first parent) rings bell) We remember and love you, (departed names). We honor you; we pass on the light of your life and your love to new generations – to our children - and our children's children. Although (child’s name) was not able to meet you, we will teach her about you, the life you lived and the love you shared, so that she too may know your legacy.

 

 

We are grateful to our elders whose wisdom we seek in all endeavors, our friends whom we are fortunate to have in our lives, and our parents who guided us along the road to adulthood. 

 

With love in our hearts we remember family who are no longer with us. We ask that they be with us in our thoughts. 

 

We wish for (child’s name), her mother, (second parent), her father, (first parent) and the entire family that they may always find prosperity in love and devotion to family and the higher ideals in life.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than irrationality.

 

(child’s name), be the best person you can; Always aim to help others and avoid harming anyone; Be kind and fair to everyone, including people who are different from you; Be kind and careful with animals; Care for the Earth; Recognize that the arts are important for sharing feelings and developing talents; recognize that science is important for learning about ourselves and our world and helping us to make this world a better place. 

 

It is our wish that these forthright principles will guide (child’s name) on her journey through life. 

 

Today we celebrate (child’s name)'s life and our absolute happiness that she has been born. 

 

Let us take the kindred spirit we feel in our hearts at this moment into all of our tomorrows, so that we are richer in spirit for her presence. 

 

All gathered here today are to undertake a special and lifelong interest in (child’s name)

 

We welcome you (child’s name) and we wish you a healthy long life full of love and happiness. May life's richest joys be yours. 

 

May gentle thoughts and loving deeds be with you always. 

 

May it be your good fortune to play some worthy part in making life more joyful for those whose paths you cross. 

 

I conclude this ceremony by summarizing the thought which has been the theme today. Let us all be aware that our lives are interrelated. That this ceremony has been to strengthen the affection and friendship we all have for each other, but especially our relationships with (child’s name).  

Through this ceremony, we broaden our family circle, remember our heritage and recall those who gave us life. 

 

Let's applaud in welcome the tenacious and exquisite (child’s name) to our lives and into our shared future and begin our celebration of (child’s name)