---
id: petname
version: "2.9"
license: Apache2
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# petname — Generate human-readable, random object names

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 536.6K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Petname is a lightweight name generator that produces random, human-readable identifiers by combining adverbs, adjectives, and animal names. It implements RFC1178 to ensure names are pronounceable and memorable while remaining decentralized and secure. The package works both as a command-line utility and as a Python library, with no external runtime dependencies.

Developers typically use petname to generate unique names for containers, virtual machines, hostnames, or any system that needs human-friendly random identifiers. It offers configuration options for word count, letter limits per word, custom separators, and complexity levels (easy, standard, or complex words). The package has been actively maintained since its initial release in 2014 and receives regular updates.

Use it for:

- Generate unique container or pod names in orchestration systems
- Create memorable hostnames for servers or network devices
- Produce random identifiers for test environments or temporary resources
- Build user-friendly naming schemes for cloud instances or virtual machines
- Generate pronounceable names for logging, tracing, or debugging contexts

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Generates random, pronounceable names by combining adverbs, adjectives, and animal names following RFC1178, useful for hostnames, container names, and other identifiers.

Yes. Petname is a simple, dependency-free utility with active maintenance, no known vulnerabilities, and a permissive license. It solves a specific, practical problem (generating memorable random names) with minimal overhead. Install it if you need pronounceable identifiers for infrastructure, testing, or naming tasks.

## Install

pip install petname
uv add petname
poetry add petname

## Installing petname

Before you install: Low install friction with no runtime dependencies and a pure-Python wheel. Actively maintained with a recent commit on 2026-02-15.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache2 (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install petname

import petname
name = petname.Generate(2, '-')
print(name)  # e.g., 'wiggly-yellowtail'

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package supports Python 3 only or maintains compatibility with Python 2 (requires_python is unspecified)
- Whether word lists (adverbs.txt, adjectives.txt, names.txt) are bundled or must be installed separately

## Package facts

- License: Apache2 (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 536.6K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

random name generator, pronounceable pet names, hostname generator, container naming, memorable random identifiers, RFC1178 names, adverb adjective animal names, naming, random-generation, infrastructure

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