Preparing to conduct my first Naming ceremony today, I reflected on the reasons why Namings are important. A naming is a way of acknowledging the name a child has been given by its family, of talking about the meaning and significance of the name, of welcoming the child to the world and the family and friends who will be part its life. Importantly the ceremony is a way of acknowledging those special people who surround the child and will be there through the child’s life. It gives people a chance to promise their love and support to the baby. What struck me about today’s ceremony for Baby A was that you could feel the good will, love and warmth in the room.
