Naming Ceremonies

Haringey Register Office is delighted to be able to offer parents the opportunity of a civil naming ceremony for their child or children. These ceremonies provide a wonderful opportunity to welcome a child into a family and for adults involved, from parents to grandparents, to acknowledge their responsibilities to the child.

Please contact us for information on 020 8489 2605 where one of our helpful staff will be happy to assist you.

• What exactly is a Naming Ceremony?
• What happens at a Naming Ceremony?
• Who will conduct the ceremony?
• How long does the ceremony last?
• Who makes the arrangements and can I include my other children?
• Where are ceremonies held?
• Fees
• Do Naming Ceremonies have legal status?
• Conditions

What exactly is a Naming Ceremony?

A Naming Ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the birth of you 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 adult friends and relatives to 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 childs future development.

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 and Closing Words. You can choose to add any of the following additional sections: Reasons for the names, Hopes for the childs future, Parents' vows to each other, Grandparents' promises, Absent guests, Further readings or presentation of a gift to the child. There are many ways to make your child's ceremony a very personal and unique event.

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Who will conduct the ceremony?

A fully trained, professional Celebrant from your Local Authority will carry out the ceremony according to the choices you make.

How long does the ceremony last?

A ceremony usually lasts around 30 minutes. During the ceremony a Souvenir record of the ceremony is signed by parents, supporting adults and the Celebrant.

Who makes the arrangements and can I include my other children?

Any parent or guardian can make the arrangements. Parents do not have to be married, neither is a Naming Ceremony just for babies, children of any age can have a Naming Ceremony. You may wish to include your older children in the ceremony as well as your new child.

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Where are ceremonies held?

Here at Haringey Register Office or at any of our licensed venues for Civil Ceremonies.

Fees

Initial fee (non refundable deposit) £50
This will entitle you to the information pack from which you may select your own choice of ceremony.

Monday-Saturday at the Register Office £100

Monday-Sunday at a Licensed Venue: price on application.

Do Naming Ceremonies have legal status?

No. 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.

Conditions

Fees are payable 6 weeks prior to the ceremony. It should be stressed that the ceremony has no legal status and you will be required to provide a Birth Certificate to confirm the child has already been registered according to law.

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