One Invitation for Every Way We Name a Baby

A baby naming ceremony is the gathering where a newborn is formally given their name in front of family and community. Hindus call it Naamkaran, Christians hold a christening or baptism, Muslim families hold an Aqiqah, South Indian families hold a cradle ceremony, Jewish families name the baby at a brit milah or zeved habat, and many families now hold a secular naming day.

It depends on the tradition: Aqiqah on the 7th day (or the 14th or 21st), a brit milah on the 8th day, Naamkaran on the 11th or 12th day, and a cradle ceremony between the 11th and 21st day. Christenings are usually within the first year, and a secular naming day can be any time.

Baptism is the Christian sacrament of being washed with water, and it can happen at any age. A christening is the traditional name for an infant baptism, where the baby is also formally given their Christian name. In everyday use — and on invitations — the two words mean the same ceremony.

There is no fixed age. Most families christen their baby within the first year, most commonly between two and six months, when the baby is settled and relatives can travel. Catholic families often baptise within the first few weeks. Your church will tell you which Sundays are available.

Yes. The seventh day is the Sunnah, but if that is not possible the Aqiqah is commonly held on the 14th or 21st day, and scholars allow it to be done later if the family cannot afford it at the time. The baby's name is announced at the Aqiqah, which is why it is also called a naming ceremony.

The baby's full name, the parents' names, the church and service time, the address with a map, where the celebration continues afterwards, and how to RSVP. Godparents are usually named too. For example: "With joyful and grateful hearts, we invite you to the christening of our daughter." This page has six more to copy.

Open with gratitude, then the name, the details and a request for duas — for example: "Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed our home with a beautiful little one. We invite you to the Aqiqah of our son and request your duas." Keep it short; most Aqiqah invitations are shared on WhatsApp.

Naming ceremonies are traditionally small: grandparents, aunts and uncles, the godparents or guide-parents, close neighbours and a few close friends. A good test is whether the person will still be part of the child's life in ten years. Colleagues and wider circles can be sent a birth announcement instead.

Keepsakes are the classic choice — a silver spoon or bangle, a small cross or a children's Bible for a christening, silver anklets or cash shagun for a Naamkaran, and clothes or gold for an Aqiqah. Books, a savings contribution or a personalised name frame are thoughtful options for any tradition.

Yes. The theme is a dropdown and the ceremony name is a field you choose, so the same invitation becomes a Naamkaran, a Christening, an Aqiqah or a secular naming day — with the colours, decorations and even the parents' clothing changing to match.

Yes, and it makes the day better. Use a name-reveal teaser for the invitation — "Six letters. One little person. All will be revealed on Sunday" — then let the animation reveal the name, letter by letter, when guests open it.

It is free with no sign-up and no watermark, and guests need nothing installed — the link opens in any phone browser, which matters when you are inviting grandparents. Guests reply with a one-tap WhatsApp RSVP that already includes your baby's name.