Names carry stories within them—histories, hopes, and identities. Some books introduce their characters in the very first breath, announcing them with the simple yet powerful phrase: My Name Is … in the title itself! And so these stories invite us into lives that unfold through their names, whether real, given, or chosen. From heartfelt memoirs to compelling fiction, these books introduce unforgettable voices, each with a story waiting to be heard.

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So Many Wonderful Stories With “My Name is…” on Covers…

Note that each of these stories titles’ begin with the phrase “My Name Is,” so instead of using it repeatedly, I have them all under my section titled thus! Also, all of them are picture books for age groups ranging from 3 to 10 years (and up too, as always, I believe everyone should read picture books!!)

My Name Is…

1. An Address by Ekuwah Mends Moses. Wow! A unique perspective
2. Bana by Bana Alabed and Nez Riaz.
3. Bilal by Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin & Barbara Kiwak. Family, standing up to bullies, faith and culture.
4. Blessing by Eric Walters and Eugenie Fernandes.
5. Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown & Rafael Lopez.
6. Elizabeth! by Annika Dunklee & Matthew Forsythe. Totally adorable pictures accompany this sweet, fun read!
7. Gabito: The life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez by Monica Brown & Raul Colon.
8. Gabriela by Monica Brown & John Parra.
9. Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter (written and illustrated by). I have read a few books about Georgia O Keefe (have always admired her stunning, larger-than-life art) and
10. a Gift by Zeshan Akhter and Åsa Gilland
11. Jojo by Disney Books. My daughter loved watching Jojo’s circus as a tot, and this book is as cute as the show!
12. Jorge: On Both Sides of the River by Jane Medina & Fabricio Vanden Broeck.
13. Long as a River by Suma Subramaniam & Tara Anand. Pride in who we are and pride in our name, plus vibrant beautiful artwork!
14. Malala by Malala Yousafzai & Mariam Quraishi.
15. Penelope by Ingrid Wolfenden.
16. Saajin Singh by Kuljinder Kaur Brar & Samrath Kaur.
17. Sangoel by Karen Williams & Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Catherine Stock. Heartwarming, inspiring, and a must-have in classroom libraries.
18. a Story by Ashanti and Monica Mikai. As the description says, this one is an empowering read, a story of taking pride in our names.
19. Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner & James Ransome.
20. Yoon by Helen Recorvits & Gabi Swiatkowska
21. Zedonk by Jia Hahn. Cute, creative tale that talks about so much!

My Name is Not

1. Ed Tug by Amy Nielander. Whimsy and heart and so much more within these pages!
2. Gussie by Mikki MacHlin. A touching must-read with stunning illustrations.
3. Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry, illustrated by Mike Litwin. Oh, how I love Isabella, and I promise you’ll love her too, even when she says her name is not Isabella!
4. Refugee by Kate Milner. Oh my.. tugging at heart strings…

Quoting Names and Nothing More

For this week’s theme about things that book characters have said over at That Artsy Reader Girl

1 Anne, Anne of Green Gables

“But if you call me Anne, please call me Anne spelled with an E.”

2 Bilbo, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

“I will give you a name, and I shall call you Sting.“

3 Charlotte, Charlotte’s Web

“Charlotte A. Cavatica. But just call me Charlotte.”

4 Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy

“I’ve always wanted a purple pocket with my name tucked inside”

5 Mr. D, The Lightning Thief

“Young man, names are powerful things. You don’t go around using them for no reason.”

6 Hazel, The Fault in Our Stars

“My name is Hazel. Augustus Waters was the great star-crossed love of my life.”

7 Munkustrap, The Naming of Cats

8 Odysseus, The Odyssey by Homer

“Noman do they call me — my mother and my father, and all my comrades as well.”

9 Paddington (and Mr. & Mrs. Brown too), Paddington

“…it’s a very important name – I don’t expect there are many bears in the world called Paddington!”

10 Pi, The Life of Pi

“That is how I got my name when I entered this world, a last, welcome addition to my family, three years after Ravi: Piscine Molitor Patel.”

Related Reads and More

• Sunday Scribblings #213: It’s All in the Name!
• What’s in a Name? + How to Remember Names and More
• Review of The Cat I Never Named : A True Story of Love, War, and Survival
• Book Review: The Book of Lost Names

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, which of these books are you familiar with? Your favorite things characters have said (about names or anything else)? Do share books and quotes you love that are to do with names in some way!