Transgender Naming Ceremonies
How does a Transgender Naming Ceremony work?
We are named as babies - we are assigned a gender - we have no choice in either.
Our name may have been chosen because it is trendy, or another family member had it and our parents wish to honour them, or simply because it sounded nice.
What’s In a Name?
The name we are known by shapes us. A person’s name forms their identity and possibly their personality too. When somebody gets our name wrong, we feel it…and we don’t like it.
Our names are precious, but for some of us, they just don’t fit. For some it doesn’t feel like us and doesn’t reflect how we see ourselves. And for some it is the same for our given gender - we don’t feel like the gender in which we have been assigned.
I should at this point state that I am cis gender, and you may feel that I’m not equipped to write a blog on this, but I be to differ. I feel it is important for cis gender people to try to get a better understanding of how it feels to not fit with their name and gender, although I can hardly scratch the surface in a blog of this size.
Instead I would like us all to consider that once someone has decided to transition to a different gender, the journey is a long and challenging one, and one that is never undertaken lightly or on a whim.
During this process a new name may be chosen and some, who lack respect or understanding, do not or will not use that name.
How Does a Transgender Naming Work?
Getting to the position where you are now in the gender you were meant to be, all along, with the new name and identity, is something to celebrate - Massively.
A person who has transitioned is then in a unique position to choose their own name and how they would like to be addressed and referred to. The new name is an important part of the new identity and can be marked and celebrated in a beautiful ceremony.
Most naming ceremonies are for babies and small children, but the transgender naming ceremony is really quite different.
If You Would Like a Transgender Naming Ceremony
You have transitioned - Congratulations.
A transgender naming ceremony is a wonderful way to share the love of your new identity with your family and friends.
How the ceremony proceeds is up to you and can be joyful, playful, serious, spiritual, traditional or completely bespoke.
The celebrant should really get to know you and find out what gives you joy, what you value, your personality and your aims for the day.
Music, poetry, dance, readings, and testimonials can be some of the elements included. The celebrant can introduce you to wonderful symbolic rituals which will give the ceremony depth and meaning.
Like all rituals, the transgender naming ceremony allows you to enter the ceremony space in one ‘state’ and enjoy the meaningful transition to a new ‘state’ of confidence and authenticity.
A truly transformative ceremony will give honour to your previous life, if you wish to, and help you and your friends and family, embrace your new identity with its name and pronouns. It really helps everyone to transition and marks the day as a day for complete celebration - a day to never forget
If you are interested in arranging a Transgender Naming ceremony you can reach out to a professionally trained Celebrant near you. Or you can contact me here.