to ask you if there is a non-religious equivalent to God parents?

[PancakePia]

Expecting our first baby, neither of us religious, but love the idea of 'God-parents' without the God bit. Just throwing it out there, are there any non-religious equivalents?

We would see these people as close friends who would be there for our child (we have discussed this with them already) if something were to happen to us and would be there to guide them if we weren't able to.

Is this just a guardian?

Just throwing ideas out there...

You absolutely can. Anything goes.

Our celebrant was the reason DD exists, so seemed fitting for her to conduct the very informal ceremony! We combined it with DD’s 2nd birthday, so she was able to be involved too.

Our daughter has two 'not godmothers'. We didn't have any kind of ceremony, just asked two close friends who we thought would be good role models for her but also who we knew would personally benefit from that relationship (both child lovers who don't / can't have children of their own).

No. It's a church notion of connecting members of a congregation.
A lot of religious-but-don't-like-religion people do something, but if someone is sufficiently in your child's life (a very humble few for most) it would probably make more sense as an atheist to put them in your will. After all god parents Carry no legal rights on your death.
An actual ceremony isn't necessary as the point is a long term thing. But everyone likes a party.

@PancakePia I was thinking this too as looking at it, it costs to have someone "officiate" it. I'd rather have a welcome/naming occasion. Especially as I'm discouraging lots of visitors in the first month - be nice to say right, we're ready, doors open from this time for the afternoon, come meet baby, celebrate with us and give important people the honour of being seen as a mentor or "guide parent" which I personally find a big deal

We had Humanist Naming Ceremonies for both our children and they were beautiful. We had so many people tell us afterwards how much they had enjoyed it and how lovely it was to witness such a personal and meaningful celebration. DS and DD now have Guide Parents.

We went to a humanist naming ceremony where the baby was given ‘guide parents’. It was absolutely lovely and I plan to do the same if I have DC.

My dc have Ungodly parents

We also had Humdnust ceremonies for our dc. We called them “Welcomings” because they’d each had their names for 6-12 months by the time we got round to it.