A naming ceremony invitation tells guests whose baby it is, where to come, and when the ceremony and the meal will be. Since the name itself is usually announced at the ceremony, the invitation says “our little one” or “baby of Priya and Rahul” rather than the name. Families commonly hold the namkaran around the eleventh or twelfth day after birth, or a few weeks later, so invitations tend to go out only a week or so ahead.
How naming ceremonies differ across India
The ceremony has many names and many customs. A few you're likely to meet:
| Where | Name | What's distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Across much of India | Namkaran | A puja, often on the 11th or 12th day, where the name is whispered in the baby's ear and then announced |
| Maharashtra | Barsa (बारसे) | Around the 12th day; the baby is placed in a decorated cradle and women sing as the name is announced |
| Gujarat | Naming by the foi | The father's sister names the baby, often swinging the baby in a cloth while saying “ઓળી ઝોળી પીપળ પાન, ફોઈએ પાડ્યું ___ નામ” |
| Kerala | Noolukettu | A thread is tied around the baby's waist and the name is said in the ear, often on the 28th day |
| Tamil Nadu | Namakaranam | Often held with the cradle ceremony, when the baby is placed in a cradle for the first time |
| Many families | Chhathi | The sixth-day ceremony, in some families combined with the naming |
Should the invitation reveal the name?
Usually not. In most families the name is announced at the ceremony, and the invitation refers to the baby as “our little one” or “baby of Priya and Rahul”. If the name was decided earlier and everyone already knows it, there's no reason to hide it. Many families send a second message after the ceremony, with a photo and the name, to everyone who couldn't come.
What to include
- The parents' names, and the grandparents' if they're hosting.
- Son, daughter, or simply little one.
- The date and time of the ceremony, and of the meal if there is one.
- The venue. If it's at home, the full address with the floor and a landmark.
- A contact number that isn't the new mother's.
Keep it short. The family is tired, the guests know it, and a warm two-line invitation does the job.
English wording
The names and dates in these samples are examples.
With joy, we invite you to the naming ceremony
of our little one
Sunday, 13 December 2026, 11 am
Puja followed by lunch
Priya and Rahul Shah
C-702, Silver Oaks, Vesu, Surat
Our family has grown by one.
Mr. and Mrs. Harish Shah invite you
to the namkaran of their grandson
Sunday, 13 December 2026, 11 am
At our home, 14 Anand Society, Surat
I've been here twelve days,
and I still don't have a name.
Come and hear it first.
Sunday, 13 December, 11 am, at home
Hindi wording
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
नामकरण संस्कार
ईश्वर की कृपा से हमारे घर आए नन्हे मेहमान के
नामकरण संस्कार में आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं।
रविवार, 13 दिसंबर 2026
प्रातः 11 बजे, पूजा के बाद भोजन
स्थान: सी-702, सिल्वर ओक्स, वेसू, सूरत
निवेदक: प्रिया एवं राहुल शाह
Gujarati wording
॥ શ્રી ગણેશાય નમઃ ॥
નામકરણ વિધિ
પ્રભુની કૃપાથી અમારા ઘરે પધારેલા નાનકડા મહેમાનના
નામકરણ પ્રસંગે આપ સહપરિવાર પધારશોજી.
રવિવાર, 13 ડિસેમ્બર 2026, સવારે 11 વાગ્યે
પૂજા પછી ભોજન
સી-702, સિલ્વર ઓક્સ, વેસુ, સુરત
લિ. પ્રિયા તથા રાહુલ શાહ
Timing and practical notes
- The date is often set by the family priest, so the invitation may only go out a week ahead. Phone close relatives first.
- Keep the event short. Mother and baby usually join only for the ceremony itself.
- Ask guests to stay home if they're unwell. A gentle line such as “We'd love to see you, but if you're under the weather, send your blessings from home” is widely understood.
- If you're combining the naming with the chhathi or the end of the first month, say both on the invitation.
- Make space for the cradle, if your family uses one, and for elders who will sit close to it during the songs.
The first letter
Many families choose the first letter of the name from the baby's birth chart, which the priest works out from the time of birth. If you follow this, the priest usually needs the exact time and place of birth a few days before the ceremony.
The rest of the first year
A newborn's first year has several of these occasions: the naming, often an annaprashan around six months, and the first birthday. The godh bharai guide covers the ceremony before the baby arrives. For the invitation itself, you can describe a soft, simple card to ShubhLink AI, as in the AI invitation maker guide, and send it the way this WhatsApp guide suggests. Other ceremonies like this one are gathered under family ceremonies.
Questions people ask
On which day is the naming ceremony held?
Commonly on the 11th or 12th day after birth, though families also choose the 28th day, the end of the first month or a date from the priest. Customs vary by community.
Who names the baby?
It depends on the family. In many Gujarati families the father's sister, the foi, names the baby. In others the parents choose, often with a first letter suggested by the priest from the baby's birth chart.
Should I write the baby's name on the invitation?
Usually not, since the name is announced at the ceremony. Write “our little one” or “baby of Priya and Rahul”, and share the name afterwards.
What do guests bring to a naming ceremony?
Clothes for the baby, silver items such as a small bowl or anklets, or cash in an envelope. Nobody expects anything elaborate.
Filed under Family ceremonies
Written by ShubhLink Editorial Team
The team behind ShubhLink's invitation templates and ShubhLink AI. We write down what families ask us most, and check each guide before it goes live.