XML : C# Reading all nodes inner text under a parent

I have an xml file that looks like

  <root>   <allnames>    <name1>george</name1>    <name2>lukas</name2>    <name3>nick</name3>   </allnames>  </root>    

I am trying to add in an array under the Node "Allnames" every child so the array will look like { "george", "lukas", "nick" } (3 items).

Instead using this code

  public string[] getStrings(string path)          try          {              List<string> whatToReturn = new List<string>();                XmlNodeList nodelist = xml.SelectNodes(path);                foreach (XmlNode node in nodelist)              {                  whatToReturn.Add(node.InnerText);              }                  return whatToReturn.ToArray();          }          catch (System.NullReferenceException)          {              return null;          }  }    

It returns : { "georgelukasnick" } (1 item).

All i want to is to return 3 items instead of 1..Any help?