Title: The Names
Author: Florence Knapp
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication date: May 6, 2025
Length: 328 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:
The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?
In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register the birth of her son. Her husband, Gordon, respected in the community but a controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and name the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates….
Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by Cora’s last-minute choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities for autonomy and healing.
Through a prism of what-ifs, Florence Knapp invites us to consider the “one … precious life” we are given. Full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.
The Names is a fascinating look at decisions and possibilities:
Yes, people’s lives bump and collide and we send one another spinning off in different directions. But that’s life. It’s not unique to you. We each make our own choices.
Before going further:
Content warning: While I don’t typically read or provide content warnings, I do feel it’s important to make clear that this book deals very heavily with domestic violence and abuse.
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up The Names. I knew it made a lot of “best of” lists for 2025 and had been a Goodreads Choice nominee. I vaguely knew that the plot had to do with deciding what to name a baby. Not much to go on! So I was both surprised and pleased to find myself completely immersed in this unusual, moving story.
As the book opens, Cora is on the way to the registrar’s office to officially register the birth and name of her newborn son, accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter Maia. Cora and her husband have already picked a name — he’ll be called Gordon, just like his father and grandfather before him. But as mother and daughter walk, they start to talk. Cora shares that she likes the name Julian, which means “sky father” — and the “father” element could be a nod to her husband while not passing on the actual traditional name. And Maia, full of creativity and whimsy, says that if she could pick, she’d name him Bear — because “it sounds all soft and cuddly and kind […] but also, brave and strong.”
From there, the story splits in three, providing three chapters in the immediate aftermath of the registrar’s office — Bear, Julian, and Gordon. In each, we see the consequences and fallout of Cora’s naming decision. How does her life — and Maia’s, and the baby’s — change depending on what she named him? The structure of the book follows this three-branched approach, moving forward in seven-year increments, each one showing this new period with Bear, Julian, and Gordon versions of their lives.
I’m not providing details, as it would spoil much too much to go into the specifics of the variations, how very different each version of their lives is, and why their lives develop as they do. This is a book that should be allowed to unfold for the reader, without foreknowledge or expectations. There are beautiful moments as well as pain, sorrow, and regrets. The characters are complex, and the ramifications of their choices are shown through the textures of the lives they live.
As I stated in the content warning, domestic abuse is the driving force — the origin story, in a way — for much of what happens, as well as the secret weight behind Cora’s naming choice. The violence isn’t gratuitous in any way, but it is painful to read, making certain sections of the book feel practically overwhelming.
Still, at its core, The Names is a story about love and family, finding beauty in life and in the people who we care about. It’s fascinating, powerful, and deeply emotional. I’ll be thinking about this book long after closing the cover. Highly recommended.
Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
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