Godparents at a christening: how many, who can be one, and their role

How many godparents should you have, and who can be one?

Many assume the number of godparents is entirely free, but the Church of Norway sets a minimum: a baptism requires at least 2 godparents, and at least 2 of them must be present in church during the baptism. There is no upper limit — the family decides. In practice most choose between 2 and 6.

The question of who can be a godparent has a concrete answer in the church's rules, not in tradition alone. Not every adult in the child's life can count as one of the required godparents, even if they can attend and matter deeply. It is worth clarifying before you invite anyone, so no one is surprised on the day.

• The minimum is 2 godparents — there is no upper limit, and 2–6 is most common
• At least 2 godparents must be physically present during the baptism itself
• Who counts as a godparent is set by church rules, not just by who you love

The Church of Norway's rules for godparents

The church's requirements for a godparent are concrete: the godparent must be baptised, must be over 15, and at least 2 of the godparents must belong to the Church of Norway or another church that practises infant baptism. Someone who is not a member of such a church can still act as a witness and take part, but cannot be counted among the required godparents.

This means you can happily include a dear friend or relative who is not a member — they can stand with the child as a witness — as long as you also have at least 2 godparents who meet the membership requirement. Practice can vary slightly between parishes, so ask the minister beforehand if you are unsure whether a specific person counts.

• The godparent must themselves be baptised and over 15
• At least 2 godparents must belong to the Church of Norway or another church that baptises infants
• A non-member can be a witness and take part, but does not count among the required godparents

How to choose your godparents

Start with the rules, not the feelings: first find at least 2 people who meet the membership requirement, and your obligations are covered. Then add others who matter to the child, regardless of membership. A common arrangement is two godparents from each side of the family plus a close friend.

Choose people who will actually be present in the child's life over time, not simply whoever is 'expected'. A godparent is meant to be a steady adult the child can turn to, so closeness and longevity matter more than kinship. Ask early — good godparents deserve to say yes with thought — and make sure at least 2 can attend in person on the day.

• Secure 2 godparents who meet the membership requirement first, then add more as you wish
• Choose for lasting closeness to the child, not just kinship or expectation
• Ask well in advance, and confirm that at least 2 can be physically present at the baptism

A godparent's role and responsibility

Formally, a godparent is a witness that the baptism took place, and traditionally undertakes to support the child's Christian upbringing alongside the parents. It is not a legal guardianship — a godparent does not automatically become the child's carer if something happens to the parents. In practice today, the role is most often a special, committed adult who follows the child over the years.

What the responsibility actually involves is for you to agree. For some it centres on the baptism, confirmation and church milestones; for others on birthdays, conversations and being an extra trusted adult. The main thing is that the godparent knows what you hope for, so expectations are shared.

• The godparent witnesses the baptism and traditionally supports the child's Christian upbringing
• It does not automatically bring legal guardianship if the parents are no longer there
• Today it is often a close, lasting adult relationship — agree expectations with the godparent in advance

Keep track of godparents and guests in Zenframe

Zenframe Events (zenframe.no/event) lets you gather godparents and other guests in one guest list with names, numbers and allergies, instead of scattered text threads. You can share a link where guests reply to the invitation without creating an account, so you see confirmations and head count update as they come in.

If you also need to make the christening invitation itself, there is a dedicated invitation designer at zenframe.eu/lag-invitasjon/daap. The tasks and budget in Zenframe make sharing the work before the day — who handles the cake, flowers, lift to church — visible to everyone, rather than something one person has to hold in their head.

• Guest list: gather godparents and guests with names, numbers and allergies in one place
• RSVP without an account: share a link, guests reply, you see the numbers update
• Make the christening invitation at zenframe.eu/lag-invitasjon/daap; keep tasks and budget in Zenframe Events

Quick advice on godparents

• Secure at least 2 godparents who belong to the Church of Norway or another church that baptises infants — that covers the minimum requirement.
• Check that each godparent is themselves baptised and over 15 before counting them.
• Want to include a dear non-member? Let them be a witness, but also have the 2 required godparents.
• Ask your godparents well in advance, and confirm at least 2 can attend in person on the day.
• If you are unsure whether a specific person counts, ask your parish minister — practice can vary slightly.

FAQ