Looking after the children but I think you got it - thanks :-) two changes...
model filename from user_names.rb to user_name.rb and as you say class UserName < ActiveRecord::Base gives... ruby-1.9.2-p290 :005 > User.last.names User Load (0.8ms) SELECT "users".* FROM "users" ORDER BY "users"."id" DESC LIMIT 1 Name Load (1.0ms) SELECT "names".* FROM "names" INNER JOIN "user_names" ON "names"."id" = "user_names"."name_id" WHERE "user_names"."user_id" = 85 => [#<Name id: 519, given: "Jeremiah", position: 1, gender: "m", created_at: "2012-03-25 17:21:52", updated_at: "2012-03-25 17:21:52">] ruby-1.9.2-p290 :006 > (first user had no names) lovely thanks. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en.

