coolname 3.0.0

Random name and slug generator

Do you want random human-readable strings?

>>> from coolname import generate_slug
>>> generate_slug()
'big-maize-loris-of-renovation'
>>> generate_slug()
'tunneling-amaranth-rhino-of-holiness'
>>> generate_slug()
'soft-cuddly-shrew-of-expertise'

Features

• Generate slugs, ready to use, Django-compatible.

  >>> from coolname import generate_slug
  >>> generate_slug()
  'qualified-agama-of-absolute-kindness'

• Generate names as sequences and do whatever you want with them.

  >>> from coolname import generate
  >>> generate()
  ['beneficial', 'bronze', 'bee', 'of', 'glee']
  >>> ' '.join(generate())
  'limber transparent toad of luck'
  >>> ''.join(x.capitalize() for x in generate())
  'CalmRefreshingTerrierOfAttraction'

• Generate names of specific length: 2, 3 or 4 words.

  >>> generate_slug(2)
  'mottled-crab'
  >>> generate_slug(3)
  'fantastic-acoustic-whale'
  >>> generate_slug(4)
  'military-diamond-tuatara-of-endeavor'

  Note: without argument, it returns a random length, but probability of 4‑word name is much higher. Prepositions and articles (of, from, the) are not counted as words.

• Use in command line:

  $ coolname
  prophetic-tireless-bullfrog-of-novelty
  $ coolname 3 -n 2 -s '_'
  wildebeest_of_original_champagne
  ara_of_imminent_luck

• Over 10¹⁰ random names.

  Words	Combinations	Example
  4	1010	talented-enigmatic-bee-of-hurricane
  3	108	ambitious-turaco-of-joviality
  2	105	prudent-armadillo

  >>> from coolname import get_combinations_count
  >>> get_combinations_count(4)
  64175336926

• Hand-picked vocabulary. sexy and demonic are about the most “offensive” words here - but there is only a pinch of them, for spice. Most words are either neutral, such as red, or positive, such as brave. And subject is always some animal, bird, fish, or insect - you can’t be more neutral than Mother Nature.

• Easy customization. Create your own rules!

  >>> from coolname import RandomGenerator
  >>> generator = RandomGenerator({
  ...   'all': {
  ...     'type': 'cartesian',
  ...     'lists': ['first_name', 'last_name']
  ...   },
  ...   'first_name': {
  ...     'type': 'words',
  ...     'words': ['james', 'john']
  ...   },
  ...   'last_name': {
  ...     'type': 'words',
  ...     'words': ['smith', 'brown']
  ...   }
  ... })
  >>> generator.generate_slug()
  'james-brown'

Installation

pip install coolname

coolname is written in pure Python and has no dependencies. It works on any modern Python version (3.7+), including PyPy.

Release history

3.0.0 (2026-01-29)

• Breaking change: Python 3.6 is not supported anymore. Tests cover Python 3.7-3.14 and PyPy 3.7-3.11.

• Better type hints (now checked with mypy)

• Minor bug fixed, concerning abnormal configs (most likely didn’t affect anyone)

• More mythical animals + one mistake fixed + few other words

2.2.0 (2023-01-09)

• More dogs, cats and cows!

2.1.0 (2022-12-07)

• Support OpenSSL FIPS by using hashlib.md5(..., usedforsecurity=False)

2.0.0 (2022-10-24)

• Support for old Python versions (<3.5) is dropped, because it’s 2022

• Command line usage and pipx support.

• With additional owls and bitterns

1.1.0 (2018-08-02)

• 32-bit Python is supported.

1.0.4 (2018-02-17)

• Breaking changes:

  • Renamed RandomNameGenerator to RandomGenerator.

  • randomize was removed, because it was just an alias to random.seed.

• Phrase lists give you even more freedom when creating custom generators.

• You can seed or even replace the underlying random.Random instance, see Randomization.

• Change the default generator using COOLNAME_DATA_DIR and COOLNAME_DATA_MODULE. This also saves memory!

• Total number of combinations = 60 billions.

For earlier releases, see History