A naming ceremony is a celebration of the uniqueness of a child by his or her family and community. It can provide an occasion to formalise the sharing of the responsibility for raising the child with significant relatives and friends. It is also an occasion to offer love and support to the family and the child.
It is a joyful ceremony, involving the whole family from the oldest to the youngest. Participants often prepare reflections about the child – the significance of the child, and the way in which this child represents the hopes and fulfilment of the family. I have conducted naming ceremonies where all four grandparents have reflected on the child, with all four reflections being very different.