Names are used throughout the text to indicate the nature of relationships between characters. For example, both Bett Devlin and Avery Bloom sign emails with initials rather than names when they are trying to distance themselves from one another. Conversely, after they become close, they develop the code names of “Dogfish” and “Night Owl,” indicating the depth of their relationship. Similarly, the girls call Betty “Gaga” as a nickname that implies closeness.

Characters also change their names when their relationships change. Avery used to only use her middle initial, “A,” not telling anyone it stood for Allenberry, her mom’s last name; after reconnecting with Kristina Allenberry, she starts spelling out her middle name. The girls experiment with hyphenating their last names while entertaining the fantasy of their fathers marrying. Near the end of the novel, Avery finally calls Kristina “Mom,” marking a shift in their level of closeness and the nature of their relationship. The motif of names and nicknames thus illustrates The Diversity of Family Structures and Found Family.