Lost My Name is Wonderbly's personalized picture book in which a child loses their name and gets it back one letter at a time, each letter brought by a different character. It is the book Wonderbly started with in 2013, it costs from $39.99 in the US, and it is written for ages 0–8. It suits a young child whose name is the point of the gift. It is not the right pick if you want the child's own face in the book.
This review covers what the book is, what it costs, where it falls short, and five alternatives for different situations. Full disclosure: we make Museme, a competing personalized art book, and it appears last on the list. Every price and detail below was checked on each brand's own website on October 30, 2026. We have not bought Lost My Name ourselves, so everything about it comes from Wonderbly's product page.
Lost My Name at a glance
| Lost My Name (Wonderbly) | |
|---|---|
| Price | From $39.99 |
| Ages | 0–8 (Wonderbly says many customers buy it as a newborn gift) |
| Pages | 22 |
| What gets personalized | The child's name drives the story; you can also upload a photo |
| Preview | All 22 pages, before you buy |
| Illustrations | Created by Wonderbly's artists |
| Production | Printed and dispatched in 2–4 working days |
What the book is
The story is a quest: a child wakes up without their name and meets a series of characters, each of whom gives back one letter. Because the characters are chosen by the letters, Wonderbly's line is that "every name creates a completely different story." A child named Ava and a child named Theodore meet different characters, and the name is revealed in full at the end.
That design is the book's strength. The child does not just see their name printed on a page; the name is the plot. For a first gift, a christening or a baby shower, it is hard to think of a more direct way to say "this was made for you."
What it costs
The product page lists Lost My Name from $39.99. When we checked, Wonderbly was running a code, EARLYBIRD, for 10% off one book, 20% off two and 30% off three or more. Promotions change often, so check the current price at checkout.
On delivery, Wonderbly's delivery information page estimated standard delivery on November 7 for an order placed on October 29, and the product page says books are printed and dispatched in 2–4 working days. Wonderbly is a UK company (Lostmy.name Ltd, London), and the final delivery estimate is calculated at checkout.
Where it falls short
It personalizes the name, not the face. The child in the illustrations is a drawn character. You can upload a photo, but the story is built around letters, not likeness. If the person receiving the gift wants to recognize their own child on the page, this is the main gap.
It is written for little ones. At 22 pages and ages 0–8, it reads aloud in a few minutes. Wonderbly frames that as a book to grow with; for a child of seven or eight, it may feel young.
One story, one message. The whole book does one thing: spell the name. That is the point, but if you want something the child will page through for other reasons, such as art, places or family, you will need a different book.
5 alternatives to Lost My Name
| Book | Brand | Price checked | Ages | What gets personalized | Preview before paying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Very Own Name | I See Me! | $34.99 | 0–6 | First and last name, spelled out in rhyme | Not stated |
| Art Adventure | Imagitime | Paperback $39.99, hardcover $54.99, + $9.99 shipping | 3–7 | Child's name and photo | Yes, whole book, free |
| Personalized Art Gift Book | Wyrd Story | $70 (shown against $115), + $10 shipping under $100 | Child, adult and pet editions | 14 portraits from your photo | Yes, first portraits free |
| Family books such as You'll Always Be My Little Girl | Hooray Heroes | $39.99 sale (regularly $59.99) | 0–12 | Names, character look | Yes, on that book's page |
| Personalized art book | Museme (ours) | $49.99 + $7.99 US shipping | 3–10 | The child's face, painted in 12 artists' styles | No; you approve all 12 pages before printing |
1. My Very Own Name, I See Me!
If you like Lost My Name because the name is the story, this is the closest match. In My Very Own Name, animals bring the letters of the child's first and last name, in rhyme, until the whole name is spelled out. It is 44 pages at 9 × 11 inches, written for ages 0–6, printed in the USA, and listed at $34.99. I See Me! has made personalized books in Minnesota since 2000, and the product page promises: "The recipient will love it or your money back!"
Best for: a baby or toddler, and a slightly lower price. See our Museme vs I See Me! comparison for how a name book differs from a portrait book.
2. Art Adventure, Imagitime
Imagitime builds its stories from the child's name and photo. Art Adventure, for ages 3–7, sends the child on a quest in which nature's hidden patterns inspire their own masterpiece. You can preview the whole book free in about two minutes before ordering. US prices are $39.99 for paperback and $54.99 for hardcover, plus $9.99 shipping, and the product page says US books are printed in the US and delivered in 8–13 days.
Best for: a story with the child's face in it, and seeing every page before paying. Museme vs Imagitime compares the two photo-based books.
3. Personalized Art Gift Book, Wyrd Story
Wyrd Story turns one photo into 14 portraits in the styles of master painters. The founder hand-selects the 14 styles from a library of more than 60 to suit the face, and each spread pairs the original painting with your portrait. The first portraits appear free about a minute after you upload. The book was $70 (shown against $115), with $10 shipping on orders under $100. It comes in Child, Adult and Pet editions and carries a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Best for: a portrait book for an adult or a pet, or styles picked around one face. Our Museme vs Wyrd Story comparison goes through the differences.
4. Hooray Heroes family books
Hooray Heroes focuses on books about a relationship: a dad and his little girl, a child and their pet, two siblings. You customize the names and each character's look (hair, skin tone, eyes and more), and the page for You'll Always Be My Little Girl invites you to preview all the pages before you buy. Most of their bestsellers were on sale at $39.99 (regularly $59.99) when we checked, and books are printed and shipped from the USA.
Best for: a gift from a parent or grandparent that puts both of them in the story.
5. Museme personalized art book (ours)
Museme is the book we make, and it answers the gap above: it shows the child, not just the name. From one clear photo, your child becomes the subject of 12 paintings inspired by 12 artists, from Klimt and Van Gogh to Frida Kahlo and Basquiat. Each artist page gives the artist's dates, nationality and style in words a young child can follow, and asks your child a question by name. It is a 32-page hardcover with a dedication page for the giver's message.
You order first: in the US, one copy is $49.99, two are $94.99 and three are $134.99, plus shipping ($7.99 for one copy, $1.50 for each extra copy). A preview of all twelve pages arrives by email within 24 hours, and nothing prints until you approve every page. Until you approve, you can cancel for a full refund; if the finished book still disappoints, we remake it free or refund you in full. Unlike Lost My Name, you cannot preview it before paying.
Best for: ages 3–10, and a gift that doubles as a first art book. See the Museme personalized art book.
Which one should you choose?
- The name is the gift: Lost My Name, or I See Me!'s My Very Own Name for a lower price and a baby-friendly age range.
- You want to see the whole book before paying: Lost My Name and Imagitime both let you preview every page first.
- You want the child's own face: Imagitime (in a story), Wyrd Story (as portraits) or Museme (as paintings with artist pages).
- It is for an adult or a pet: Wyrd Story.
- It is for Christmas: order early. See our Christmas gift guide for Museme's order-by date.
FAQ
What is the Lost My Name book?
Lost My Name is a personalized picture book by Wonderbly, first published in 2013. A child loses their name and gets it back one letter at a time from different characters, so each name produces a different story. It is 22 pages, for ages 0–8, from $39.99 in the US.
Is the Lost My Name book worth it?
It is worth it if the child's name is the heart of the gift, especially for a baby or toddler: the name is the plot, and you can preview all 22 pages before buying. It is less suited to an older child or to a giver who wants the child's actual face in the book.
Does Lost My Name use the child's photo?
The illustrated child is a drawn character, and the story is built from the letters of the name. Wonderbly's product page also lets you upload a special photo. Books such as Imagitime's and Museme's are built from the child's photo instead.
What is similar to Lost My Name?
I See Me!'s My Very Own Name is the closest: animals spell the child's first and last name in rhyme. For a photo-based book, look at Imagitime, Wyrd Story or Museme.