---
id: haikunator
version: "2.1.0"
license: BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# haikunator — Heroku-like random name generator for python.

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 93.1K/mo

## 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 above — 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Yes, if you need a simple, dependency-free random name generator and can accept that the package is no longer maintained.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

pip install haikunator
uv add haikunator
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: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 93.1K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

random name generator, heroku-like name generation, adjective noun token names, unique identifier generation, random string naming, procedural name creation, slug generator, name-generation, random-identifiers

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/haikunator) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/haikunator/)