skillfed

haikunator

Heroku-like random name generator for python.

haikunator v2.1.0 93.1K downloads/30d#13,400 on PyPI130
Permissive license BSD Abandoned released

What it is and what it does

Haikunator generates random, human-readable names in the style of Heroku's naming scheme—combining a random adjective, noun, and numeric or hex token separated by a delimiter. It's a lightweight utility with no external dependencies, designed for use cases where you need to generate unique but pronounceable identifiers quickly.

The package exposes a single `Haikunate` class with one main method, `haikunate()`, which accepts parameters to customize the token format (numeric, hexadecimal, or custom characters), token length, delimiter, and the word lists themselves. It supports optional seeding for reproducible output.

Use it for:

  • Generate unique container or instance names for deployment and orchestration systems
  • Create memorable temporary identifiers for test fixtures, sessions, or temporary resources
  • Produce readable slugs or identifiers for user-facing features like temporary URLs or invite codes
  • Name temporary files, logs, or artifacts in CI/CD pipelines where human readability aids debugging

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Generates random Heroku-style names composed of adjectives, nouns, and optional numeric or hex tokens, with configurable delimiters and character sets.

Yes, if you need a simple, dependency-free random name generator and can accept that the package is no longer maintained. The core functionality is stable and unlikely to break for basic use cases, but do not rely on it for new Python versions or expect bug fixes. For active projects, consider whether a maintained alternative better suits your risk tolerance.

Install

haikunator on PyPI

pip

pip install haikunator

uv

uv add haikunator

poetry

poetry add haikunator

Installing haikunator

Before you install

Low friction install with no runtime dependencies. Package is marked abandoned (last commit 2018-01-30, no releases since 2016-09-20), so expect no active maintenance or bug fixes.

License in practice

BSD license is permissive, allowing use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart

pip install haikunator

from haikunator import Haikunator

haikunator = Haikunator()
print(haikunator.haikunate())  # => "wispy-dust-1337"
print(haikunator.haikunate(token_length=6))  # => "patient-king-887265"

Verify before relying

  • Whether the package works reliably with Python versions released after 2018 (classifiers list Python 3.6 as latest tested)
  • Whether custom adjective/noun lists are validated or if malformed input could cause unexpected behavior

Package facts

License BSD (permissive)
Python support not specified
Install friction low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies none
Maintenance abandoned — 3,615 days since the last release
Last repo commit
First released
Downloads 93,095/month — #13,400 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: haikunator-2.1.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules

Tags

random name generatorheroku-like name generationadjective noun token namesunique identifier generationrandom string namingprocedural name creationslug generator
name-generationrandom-identifiers

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