As promised, here is the naming ceremony script we used. With very many thanks to the lovely mum that posted on Hitched.com for freely publishing hers and allowing others to borrow from it, as this really helped in forming the below. If it helps anyone else to form their own naming day script, then feel free to borrow from it.

Introduction

A warm welcome to you all, friends and family of Mr and Mrs Lighty as we come together to celebrate a new life – the life of a beautiful baby boy – Baby Lighty. Thank you all for being here. Today we mark a milestone not only for Baby Lighty, but also for Mr and Mrs Lighty, for their family and for everyone whose lives he has touched in the past year that he has been in this world.

We celebrate today Baby Lighty’s first birthday party, but Mr and Mrs Lighty also wanted to welcome Baby Lighty to the extended family and of friends and relatives that have all shown love and support over the past year. For this reason, we are gathered here today to officially celebrate his name. We have all shared in the joy of Baby Lighty’s arrival and Mr and Mrs Lighty have invited you all here today as special people within his life, people who will undoubtedly shape who he becomes as an adult with the help of your love, knowledge and wisdom. And so to begin the ceremony, they would like to say thank you to everyone gathered here.

Explanation of name

Now it is time to formally welcome Baby Lighty with love as we bestow his name upon him.

Baby Lighty was born at XXX on XXX, weighing XXX.

A name is very important. It distinguishes us from others and gives us a sense of belonging in our family and community. Mr and Mrs Lighty had struggled to pick a boy’s name that they liked, although they had a few girls’ names ready!! But they had both liked Baby Lighty’s name for many years,  Mrs Lighty having come across it in a novel even prior to before they were married, and it was this name that they came back to when their baby boy arrived.

Baby Lighty’s name means ‘good with the hands, or skilled’. Characteristics of a boy or man named Baby Lighty are said to be: dependability, a practical nature, hardworking, industrious and studious.

His middle names, were chosen by both parents for more personal reasons. They are the names of Baby Lighty’s late maternal Grandfathers, who we know would have both loved him. One is also a family name of Mrs Lighty’s maternal side of the family.

Baby Lighty, your name has been chosen with love, care and heritage. We therefore name you Baby Lighty! We wish you a long life full of happiness, love and laughter.

Promises for Parents

Baby Lighty’s Great Auntie Tempy is now going to read Wisdom from Proverbs.

Now Baby Lighty’s parents are going to make their promises to him:

We promise to cherish and nurture Baby Lighty throughout his life.
We promise to guide Baby Lighty and to respect and support the choices he makes.
We promise to do our best to raise Baby Lighty to take his place in the community as a kind and caring person.

Mr and Mrs Lighty have asked 4 of their closest friends to be Baby Lighty’s Godparents. Please can they now join us at the front.

Godparents are named individuals chosen by the parents to take an interest in the child’s upbringing and personal development. They have been chosen as they are some of Baby Lighty’s closest friends and they want them to know how important they are within their lives and share in the joy that Baby Lighty brings them.

Mrs Lighty now has a special message for each of the Godparents.

Godparents, we now formally ask you all:
Will you help to guide Baby Lighty through life so that he may grow up to be a respectful, caring adult?

We will.

Will you help him to learn and grow to the best of your ability?

We will.

Will you show him continued love as you have shown him already?

We will.

Now in keeping with the theme of the party, Disney’s Up!, Mr Lighty has a little badge for you all, to show that you and Baby Lighty, are now part of a club! Congratulations on becoming Baby Lighty’s Godparents!

As we draw this ceremony to a close we say to you, Baby Lighty, may life’s richest joys and blessings be yours. May you grow in health of body and mind and enjoy a life full of love, laughter and happiness.

On behalf of Mr and Mrs Lighty, we’d like to thank you for your attendance today and your support in the past, present and future. Now go eat, drink and be merry!