If loved ones are celebrating their new arrival with a Naming Day, you might wonder what kind of present to bring. That's where we come in! These thoughtful Naming Day gifts honour the little one's moniker in an adorable way while still being affordable.
What is a Naming Day?
A Naming Day or Naming Ceremony is a way to celebrate a new arrival or welcome children into the family. It's an occasion shared with family and friends, that typically includes a ceremony with readings, music, promises and a commemorative certifcate, but it also can be very informal and have a party vibe! It doesn't have any legal standing but it can be led by a Celebrant, who could be from the local Register Office.
Naming Ceremony Gift Ideas
So many celebrations have been postponed due to the pandemic that you might have quite a full calendar of events this summer to make up for lost time — and quite a long list of presents to buy for all those weddings, anniversary parties, Christenings and Naming Day ceremonies.
But you don't need to spend big to make a big gesture, as these 12 personalised Naming Ceremony presents under £25 prove. We've even got ideas for how to make your own too. And remember to check for the latest discounts and deals on gifts at VoucherCodes.
Wall Art
A decoration for their wall is a wonderful way to celebrate their name.
Print: Combine their name with positive affirmations with the Personalised 'I Am Strong' Children's Affirmation Print (£11.20, was £14, unframed) from Abel the Label through Not on the High Street. This is a gift that keeps on giving, as they'll be able to recite the words themselves as they get older, and you'll be giving the gift of self-esteem, which is pretty priceless.
Banner: You could put all the focus on them with a Personalised Kids Initial and Name Banner (£12.99) from Lua Nova Design through Etsy. You don't need to get a frame for this one, and its neutral colour palette means it will go well with any nursery decor.
Make your own: Hobbycraft has a tutorial for How to Make a Personalised Initial Banner, with links to buy the materials. If you already have sewing thread and felt, you'll only need to buy a Canvas Banner for £4. It's an easy project suitable for beginners, and you'll be upping the thoughtful stakes by gifting a homemade present.
Books
Make the most of precious story time with a tale that makes magic memories out of their moniker.
Name book: There are various personalised books that put the child inside the pages as a key player in the plot, but Lost My Name (£24.99) from Wonderbly really makes a feature of the child's name with each letter becoming a character in the adventure. You can choose how they look and add a dedication to the front.
Eco book: For a tale with an important environmental message about the wonder of trees, Plant A Tree Personalised Story Book (£20.95) from Letterfest features their name and is illustrated with your choice of character. A tree is planted on behalf of the child too, making it even more than just an engaging tale.
Make your own: If you're a wordsmith or a keen drawer, you could write and illustrate your own story for them! This could be as complex as a multiple-page adventure featuring the child as the lead, or as simple as a Mini Matchbox Book, with a tiny concertina story stashed inside — the Baker Ross tutorial shows you how.
Or what about a one-page poem handwritten on a thick piece of card. You could have fun with their name with an acrostic poem, which is when the first letter of each line spells out a word — in this case, their name! If you want to make it fancy, you could get a set of calligraphy pens (or brush pens) from stationers such as WHSmith and Ryman. Frame it and it can double up as wall art, too.
Toys
A snuggly toy becomes even more special with the addition of their name.
There are adorable soft toys that have the option of an embroidered personalisation, and they could become a lifelong friend. Just double-check it's marked suitable from birth and has been tested to safety regulations.
Doll: There are lots of options at My 1st Years for ragdolls with different skin tones, hairstyles and outfits, like the Personalised Soft Doll in Stripey Dress (£15.60, was £26), which currently has a whopping 40% off. The little one's name is added to the clothing of these dolls, which are machine washable.
Soother: Jellycat makes such sweet soft toys that are firm favourites with little ones (my daughter included). The Personalised Bashful Beige Bunny Soother (£20) combines a little bunny with a snugglie and their name can be added to the blankie part for an extra fiver. There are dinosaur, dragon and fox versions too. You can also put the name on the ear of a medium-sized bunny.
Make your own: If you're crafty then you could create your own toy, but it's crucial to follow safety guidelines when doing so. Funky Friends Factory has put together these vital Toy Safety Tips for homemade toys. The key points are to avoid toxic or harmful materials, choking dangers and strangulation hazards. The creative mind behind the brand, Pauline has lots of great toy patterns to buy with instant download, like the Baby-safe Toy Bunny, as well as some free patterns and tons of advice.
Keepsakes
Provide a beautiful place for memories to be kept and treasured with a keepsake.
Photo album/scrapbook: Gifting an empty photo album is a great way to create a space for all of those special moments to be stored — from the ceremony itself and beyond. There are plenty of options out there that you can have customised. You can choose what text is printed on the front of the Personalised Rainbow 6×4 Photo Album with Sleeves (£16.99) from Love My Gifts.
Or go with a scrapbook, to make it easy to add other memorable bits and bobs too, from invites to cards.
Box: This option is ideal for storing special 3D objects that don't fit into an album or book, such as a lock of hair, first shoes and other precious items. Tailor it to their name with the likes of the Personalised Baby Keepsake Box (£19, was £38) from Dust and Things.
Make your own: You can buy a plain scrapbook and decorate the cover yourself, ready to be filled in, or even add some of the contents to get them started. Lovecrafts has Baby Scrapbook Ideas to provide inspiration.
There are lots of ways to customise a plain wooden box yourself too. It could be as elaborate as writing their name with a wood-burning pyrography tool or as simple (yet effective) as sticking Scrabble tiles on top. You can find these kinds of supplies easily at craft stores.
Clothing
Dress them in cute clothing that is all about them with their initial or name emblazoned.
Sleepsuit: Next has a great range of personalised sleepsuits starting from £10. The Personalised Bunny Sleepsuit by Little Years (£14) is a sweet unisex option made from 100% cotton.
Babygrow: Instead of their name you can display their initial, like with this Personalised White Baby Grow with Colourful Initial (£14.99) from Getting Personal. It's made from 100% cotton and available in five sizes.
Make your own: Although you can buy fabric pens and such like to customise clothing yourself, when it comes to outfits for babies you're probably safest leaving it to the professionals, as you'll need to ensure you're using non-toxic materials so it's a step typically not worth taking.
However, if you're a dab hand with embroidery and feel confident creating a safe and special piece, you could embroider their initial onto the corner of a baby towel for a beautiful gift.
Naming
There are quirkier ways to bring their name to life, too.
Star: How about putting their name up in lights... the shining light of a star? You can Name A Star (£12.99) in their honour via The Gift Experience, which includes a personalised A5 certificate, star area co-ordinates chart and map of the night skies poster. You can upgrade to a Gift Box Edition (£19.99), which also comes with a Guide to the Northern Constellations book, or a Deluxe Edition (£24.99) with a framed A4 certificate.
Plant: Or how about going all Jack and the Beanstalk with Personalised Name Bean Seeds (£6) from BEEcycle? You can gift them a pack of beans that will display their name as they grow. Now that's magic!
Make your own: Does the little one have a flower or herb name? Then that's the perfect opportunity for a meaningful gift with a nature theme that will grow alongside them — a plant! This works particularly well for a child called Rose or Rosemary, but it doesn't have to be quite that niche.
You could be a bit more general, and give a mulberry bush (inspired by the nursery rhyme) or a quince tree (inspired by The Owl and the Pussycat) or any plant that symbolises the message you want to impart — such as hazel for protection. The Gluttonous Gardener has a range of such plants that come with plaques, or you could take a cutting from one of your favourites to be grown in their garden, creating a link between the two of you.
With these ideas for thoughtful, personalised Naming Day gifts you can celebrate the star of the day in a meaningful way.
