Named by Camilla Balshaw BLOG TOUR #Named @CamillaBalshaw @bedsqpublishers @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 

Our names are a shadow we carry around with us. They are part of who we are. Our names are a marker of our self-identity and our sense of self. Our names have the power to shock. They have the power to heal, and they have the power to trigger conversations around race, class, social mobility and belonging. But what is a name? What do our names tell us about ourselves? And why do they matter?

Named is a fascinating exploration of names, global naming conventions and identity politics woven into a moving, personal narrative about the finding of family and self. At the intersection of memoir and social and cultural history it is a truly fascinating book about the seemingly ordinary and every day.

The author's own narrative about her estrangement from her Nigerian father, the grapples with her Jamaican mother and her journey towards identity is woven through the chapters making it an engaging and intimate investigation of what makes us who we are.

Named by Camilla Balshaw is published today; 5 June 2025 by Bedford Square Publishers. As part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today. 

Extract from Named by Camilla Balshaw 

What are we without a name?

Our names are entwined with our identity. They are repeated

in countless transactions, conversations and written correspond-

ence. Our names are stamped on our passports, utility bills and

employment IDs. They carry a lot of information. When we

hear a name, we attach an age, gender, class, nationality or

ethnic origin to the name’s bearer, and although we might

not like to admit it, when we hear a name, it influences our

first impressions of someone. Yet most of us don’t question

our names. They are just there, aren’t they? They are a neces-

sary identifier to differentiate us as individuals. And, let’s not

beat about the bush; they are a legal requirement. Without

them, how would we function as a society?

So allow me to introduce myself. My name is Camilla. Of

course it is. It’s the name written on the front cover of this

book. But growing up, I was called an entirely different name.

This was explored in an essay I wrote for the Guardian, which,

over time, grew into this book. As broadcast media has shown,

more of us are questioning what makes us who we are and

where we belong, so writing this story has felt increasingly

relevant and timely. I knew I wanted to write a personal and 

factual exploration of the use of names through the lens of

other people’s experiences as well as my own. So it is a memoir

of sorts. My story is the beating heart of this book. But it is

so much more than that. By telling my story, I consider wider

universal themes of how we fit into this world. The dynamics

of identity, belonging and not belonging, families and the

intricate relationships between mothers, fathers and daughters.

My parents’ shadows loom over the pages of this book. They

are the key to unlocking the door to my name. Without them,

this story can’t be told.

This is by no means a complete account of all the naming

practices worldwide. This book can’t discuss everything, and I

do not wish to overstep beyond my experiences and knowledge.

I wrote this book to invite you, the reader, to consider

your name. I hope it might spark conversations about what

our names mean to us, because this seemingly simple part of

our collective identities is anything but simple. There is a story

behind every name; although this is my story, part of it may

be your story, too.

And finally, remember, whatever the circumstances of your

name, take comfort in it. This name you carry around with

you is your trusted escort and friend. Cherish it, change it or

reclaim it.

Camilla Balshaw grew up in Luton. 

Her work has been published in the Observer and the Guardian. 

She has an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. 

Her writing has been shortlisted and longlisted for a number of competitions. 

She lives in rural Norfolk. 

This is her first book.

X @CamillaBalshaw

Instagram @camillabalshaw

Blue Sky @camillabalshaw.bsky.social