The parents of a nine-week-old girl will tomorrow take part in an event that is being billed as the UK's first official civil naming ceremony.

The baby, from Stapley, Cheshire, is set to make history when she is officially named Tamara Geraldine Ebel Cliffe in the non-religious service.

The setting is the plush Rookery Hall Country House Hotel in Worleston, where Manchester United star David Beckham and Posh Spice announced their engagement.

Cheshire County Council is one of a dozen local authorities working in partnership with the Baby Naming Society and Lifecycle Marketing, publishers of Emma's diary pregnancy and pre-school guides, to develop the non-religious alternatives.

Civil naming ceremonies is also being backed by the Government in a Green Paper, Supporting Families.

Tamara's ceremony is the first since the official launch of an inter-authority pilot project in late November involving a number of councils across England and Wales.

During the 25-minute ceremony Tamara's parents John Ebel and Tracy Cliffe will make a public commitment to support, love and care for both their daughter and each other.

They have chosen poetry and readings for the event which is expected to be attended by family and friends. Instead of godparents, the ceremony will be attended by "supporting adults".

Mr Ebel, a 28-year-old restaurant manager, said: "We went for a naming ceremony because we felt it would be an ideal way of bringing our family and friends together to celebrate the birth of our baby. When we heard about this ceremony we thought it was perfect for our daughter."

A council spokesman said: "Ceremonies at register offices or approved buildings will provide a non-religious way for parents who wish to make a public declaration of long-term commitment to their children."

The council's Birth Registration Service conducted its own survey of the likely demand for such ceremonies with one-third of parents registering births expressing an interest.

Manager Martin Smith said civil naming ceremonies have been held in people's homes for years but Cheshire is offering a "celebrant" to conduct the service.

Cheshire was one of the first local authorities to introduce civil weddings at approved locations and now more than 1,000 couples marry each year at venues ranging from register offices to castles.

"Whether the demand for naming ceremonies ever grows to this size remains to be seen. Whatever happens in the future, Tamara, will have made her own little bit of history," added Mr Smith.