In this increasingly secular age, more and more parents are opting to hold naming days for their children, instead of the more traditional christenings. Naming days take on many guises, from formal ceremonies drawing on pagan traditions to informal gatherings of family and friends. And while each occasion -- and each child -- is different, you may feel the more classical christening presents are inappropriate or outdated for a non-religious or less formal ceremony.

Here follows a list of ideas. It is important to think carefully about who you are buying for, and also about the significance of your gift. A naming day is about a life about to be lived: choose something with longevity, with meaning, choose something that will remain dear to the baby (or child) for many, many years to come.

Classic Books

Both parents and child will long enjoy a hardback edition of a children's classic, all the more so if it is attractively illustrated. Large books of fairy tales are good -- Grimm's for example, or Hans Christian Andersen -- or try British classics such as Beatrix Potter, Alice in Wonderland or The Wind in the Willows.