Godparent

A godparent is a person who is legally intrusted to look after a child in the case that both his legal parents should die. The term originated in Christianity, when a godparents sponsored the child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather and a female Godparent is a godmother.

A godparent may be related to the child, such as an uncle or an aunt, or may simply be a friend of the family.

See also: The Godfather, a novel and movie.