Around christening season a good chunk of what we post out is crosses, so we've wrapped a fair few for baby boys by now. And the pattern's always the same: the gifts that get kept are the small personal ones. A silver cross. Something engraved. A pendant with his name or birthstone on it that lives in a drawer for a while, then a jewellery box, then eventually ends up round his neck. Most people spend £25 to £60. Godparents usually go a little higher, because tradition quietly expects it of them.
Worth saying plainly before anything else: a baby won't wear a necklace. So think of almost everything here as a keepsake. You're buying for the eight-year-old, really, or the eighteen-year-old, not the baby in the gown. That's the whole reason dated and engraved pieces are worth it. They give him something to grow into.
The short version
If you just want the answer: get a cross. It's traditional, it's safe, and no one has ever opened one and been let down. Our Cubic Zircon Cross Pendant (£44.90) is the plain classic. Want his birth month in there? The Birthstone Initial Necklace (£49.90) handles that. And for a keepsake with a bit more feeling to it, the Heart Cross Projection Necklace (£59.90) tucks a photo inside the stone.
Why the cross still wins
People reach for a cross first, and they're not wrong to. It ties straight to the day. Sterling silver ages well and never starts looking dated, which matters a lot for something meant to sit in a box for two decades. The Clear Zircon Cross Necklace (£49.90) is the one families come back for. Tighter budget? The smaller Cubic Zircon Cross Pendant (£44.90) does the same job for a fiver less.
One version does something a bit different. The Heart Cross Projection Necklace (£59.90) sets a tiny photo inside the stone that only shows when you hold it to the light. The christening itself. A grandparent who couldn't make it. It feels like a keepsake far more than jewellery, which, for a christening, is rather the point.
Name it, or add his birthstone
Personal always beats generic here. A card-shop gift gets lost in a cupboard; a pendant with his actual name on it doesn't. The Birthstone Initial Necklace (£49.90) puts his first initial next to his birth month's stone, so it's specific to him without a wordy engraving. Want something with a bit more heft? The Personalised Name Necklace with Curb Chain (£49.90) has a heavier chain that reads more masculine as he grows.
Quick engraving tip, since people ask: keep it short. A name, his initials, or the christening date sits beautifully. Whole sentences get cramped and lose the charm. Bracelets are fair game too, and the Birthstone Initial Bracelet (£39.90) is the gentlest on the wallet while still being fully engraved.
If you're his godparent
The bigger gift tends to land on you. Traditionally a cross, or a personalised keepsake built to outlast childhood. It really doesn't need to be expensive. A £50 piece that's engraved and dated will mean more in fifteen years than something double the price with nothing personal on it. Two godparents going in together can nudge up to a projection cross or a birthstone piece without much fuss.
What to spend, and when to give it
Guests usually land between £20 and £40. Godparents and grandparents closer to £50 to £75. Hand it over at the service or the do afterwards; posting it, send it a day or two early so it doesn't turn up once everyone's gone home. And write a short note with the date on it. That little thing is nearly always what gets the gift filed away with the christening photos rather than the wrapping paper.
FAQ
What is a traditional christening gift for a boy?
A silver cross, most of the time. Engraved keepsakes, birthstone jewellery, and anything marked with his name or the christening date all belong in the same "something to treasure" bracket.
How much should you spend on a christening gift?
Guests tend to spend £20 to £40, godparents and grandparents more like £50 to £75. Honestly, what's engraved on it matters more than what it cost.
What does a godparent give at a christening?
Usually the keepsake with the most meaning behind it. Traditionally a cross, or a personalised piece meant to last into adulthood.
Can you give jewellery to a baby boy?
Yes, as a keepsake rather than something he'll wear straight away. Go for engraved or dated pieces made to be kept and grown into.
Nothing above quite fits? Have a browse through the full range of personalised keepsakes. Most can be engraved with a name, an initial, or the christening date.
