100 years ago, two of the top 10 most popular names in the United States were Doris and Donald. My grandmother was named Doris and the current U.S. president is a Donald. In 2024, Olivia and Liam topped the list. Times and tastes change but what does it matter? What is in a name?
Florence Knapp’s book, “The Names,” begins with a mother heading to the registry office to register her baby. She must decide upon his name. What follows is three different storylines based on what his life might have been depending on the name she chose. How will her son be treated if he is named Gordon or Julian or Bear? How will it affect his future or people’s perception of him? What burden would he carry if he is named after his abusive father, Gordon? Publishers Weekly says, “Readers won’t be able to stop talking about this intelligent exploration of a single choice’s long tail of repercussions.”
Jodie Picoult delves into the consequences of using a pen name in her book, “By Any Other Name.” Two women, centuries apart, have trouble being heard, or taken seriously, as playwrights. That is, until they write under male pen names. Modern day Melina Green writes a play about her ancestor, Emilia Bassano, who is suspected of being the actual writer of many of Shakespeare’s plays. Afraid of rejection, Melina is reluctant to share the work but a friend, who believes in her, secretly enters the play into a festival under a male pseudonym. What price will the women pay in not being known by their real names?
“I introduce myself here, because in the story I am about to tell, I begin with no name or identity. No character traits or behaviors assigned to me.” “No wallet, no ID.” So goes the true story, from page two, of Chanel Miller’s memoir, entitled “Know My Name
.” Miller was known as Emily Doe in a news story that was heard around the world. Brock Turner, a student at Stanford University, was witnessed sexually assaulting Miller, as she lay unconscious on the ground behind a dumpster. Despite all of the physical evidence and eyewitness testimony, Turner was only sentenced to six months in county jail.
Miller revealed her identity in an impact statement that went viral. Telling her story was a transformative act that inspired changes to California law, the recall of the judge in her case, and a flood of messages from victims sharing their own stories of assault. Sharing her name and feelings, after the trial, was a brave act that freed her from isolation and shame.
On a lighter note, there are several books in our collection that should be of interest to plant lovers. They regard the Latin names and/or the namesakes of various plants. “In the Name of Plants: From Attenborough to Washington, the People Behind Plant Names,” by
Sandra Knapp, tells the history of names ranging all the way from Charles Darwin’s grandfather to, “more recently, the fern genus Gaga, named for the pop star and actress Lady Gaga, whose verdant heart-shaped ensemble at the 2010 Grammy Awards bore a striking resemblance to a giant fern gametophyte.” “Plant Names Explained: Botanical Terms and Their Meaning,” is a 2024 book which explains how a plant name “can often reveal where it originated, who discovered it, what shape it is, and more besides.” Finally, “Latin for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored,” by Lorraine Harrison, describes how learning some basic Latin terms will help plant enthusiasts understand different varieties better, upon introduction. 
“Readers will learn to identify Latin terms that indicate the provenance of a given plant and provide clues to its color, shape, fragrance, taste, behavior, functions, and more.”
Lastly, I will leave you with a unique new book entitled “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes,” by
Ying Chang Compestine. “Explore the unique nomenclature of traditional Chinese dishes through folklore, personal storytelling, and 26 easy-to-cook recipes in this entertaining graphic novel cookbook.” Learn the origins of such foods as “Ignored By Doggy Buns,” “Husband and Wife Lung Slices,” and “Old Pockmarked Lady’s Mapo Tofu.” I cannot remark on the dishes themselves but this graphic novel cookbook sounds interesting. You can even learn chopsticks etiquette!
This is just a sampling of books the library offers to help answer the age-old question, “What’s in a name?” Visit the library and find the answers.
