Cartoon from the children's song 'Baby Shark'

Poems, readings and Baby Shark!

Humanist Society Scotland welcoming and naming ceremonies are all individually crafted to reflect what’s important for you or your family, and they can be as creative as your imagination allows. You may want to include some poems, readings or music.

Poems and readings

Naming poems and readings are a lovely way to involve guests in a naming ceremony. Equally, your celebrant can read them for you. These are not necessary to make your naming ceremony personal and meaningful – it’s all about your choice.

There are lots of lovely non-religious and child-appropriate poems and readings. Some people even choose to write their own. Now that’s totally unique!

Here is a selection of some of the more popular choices.

‘Oh the places you’ll go’ by Dr Seuss
‘The joy of raising a baby’ by Karl and Joanna Fuchs
‘Dirty face’ by Shel Silverstein
‘My baby brother’ by Bruce Lansky
‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling
‘A tribute to all daughters’ by Helen Steiner Rice
‘Children learn what they live’ by Dorothy Nolte
‘Lullaby’ by John Fuller

There are also poems suitable for older siblings to read including:

‘Us two’ by AA Milne
‘Being small’ by John Maguire
‘Daddy forgets my name’ by Bruce Lansky
‘Brothers’ by an unknown author

Children dancing together at a party with two adults dressed as clowns

Music

Choosing music for a child’s naming ceremony is another way to make it personal and unique to you and your family. Although you don’t have to have music, families often choose music to end on and many choose a song for the start as well. Equally, if you’re signing a certificate or incorporating a symbolic gesture or ritual, you might want to have some background music.

There are lots of lovely child-friendly choices – you can even choose one of their favourite songs. Be prepared for Baby Shark though! That said, this, and others like Hokey Pokey, are a great way to get everyone, young and old, up dancing. A fun way to end the ceremony!