*The Names* is a 2025 debut novel by Florence Knapp that explores the "sliding doors" concept of how a single decision can ripple through decades. The story centers on Cora, a woman living under the shadow of her controlling husband, Gordon. When she goes to register the birth of her son, she faces a choice: follow her husband's demand to name the baby after him, or choose a different path. The novel then splits into three alternating timelines spanning 35 years, following the lives of the son as Gordon, Bear, or Julian.

The novel is structured around three distinct versions of the same life, each shaped by the name Cora chooses: \n- **Gordon:** A life shaped by tradition and the looming influence of his father. - **Bear:** A life characterized by strength, warmth, and kindness. - **Julian:** A life inspired by the sky, representing limitless ambition and potential.