Naming Ceremonies

A Naming Ceremony is a very special way of celebrating your child and welcoming the new arrival into the family and community. It allows you the opportunity to think about how you can be as good a parent as possible and to make special promises to your child. The child or children can be of any age.

A Naming Ceremony is an occasion for everyone to feel involved as they pledge support for your child’s future development. Share the day with family and friends and make it a day to remember throughout your child’s life – the day you promised to support and commit yourself to their upbringing. It can be held at the Registration Office or at a venue agreed between the Registration Service and the parent(s). If you wish, it can be held immediately after a Civil Marriage Ceremony.

A Naming Ceremony has no legal status, it is simply something that you, as parents, choose to do as a public gesture of love and commitment to your child.

Children of any age can have a Naming Ceremony - they are not just for babies. Any parent or legal guardian of a child can arrange a Naming Ceremony. Parents do not need to be married in order to organise a Naming Ceremony.

A Naming Ceremony must not be confused with birth registration, which all parents have to do as a legal requirement. Naming Ceremonies, and any written record of the event, cannot be used for identification purposes. Neither are they legally binding on those who participate.

The celebrant who conducts your ceremony will not be acting in an official capacity, even if they also work as a Registrar. A celebrant is a trained person who will lead your ceremony.

Registration fees can be found via the link to the Registration Fees document. (Fees are subject to change after 1 April)

For further information, please contact the Registration Service (refer to Contacts section of the page).

Payment method is by debit or credit card.