When Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names, she hears the story of her name and learns about her grandparents.

"Includes more than 25,000 popular and unique names, complete with origins, meanings, variant spellings, and notable facts and namesakes"--Provided by publisher.

Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.

When the eldest son fell in the well and most of the time getting help was spent pronouncing the name of the one in trouble, the Chinese, according to legend, decided to give all their children short names.

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.

A new creature is added to the deep-sea tank, but what will they call this flapjack octopus? Includes a scientist's note on the naming of Adorabilis.

Before a little girl has a chance to name the cat that arrives unexpectedly at her house, he disappears again only to be replaced by another "pet," Steve the gorilla.

"Sona Sharma's house is full of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come unannounced, the phone rings frequently and friends drop in all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona she is going to have a baby. Is that good? Sona isn't sure -- she has always enjoyed being an only child -- and straight away she has a word with her best friend, Elephant. When Sona learns that there will be a baby naming ceremony, she is determined to find...