namejen

Random name generator, written in Clojure / ClojureScript, that uses Markov chains to follow common syllabic patterns. Inspired by this Python project, and somewhat dual to this Common Lisp library.

When run standalone, the output is a column of names suitable for games, writing fiction, naming your pets and kids, etc. Your mileage may vary.

Substituting a different list of source names (see files in resources) will change the flavor of the names, sometimes dramatically. For the input provided, the output seems reminiscent of names from an Iain M. Banks novel.

Examples

Deidra Olas Rafael
Ms. Rochellye Ryce
Xuan Amiltos
Mr. Rain Brian
Ms. Rnelieselottie Tendra
Srta. Nora Adrianto
Larence Holly, Jr.
Ms. Cheryn Ning
Ms. Ursula Anity Todd
Gilda Rleen Cobson Gabrina
Herr Chary Acey Trian, V
Sra. Idre Izumi Jeri
Mr. Ufus Zabeth Leslie Klaus
Octavio Llen Stian Steen Ergeant
Ms. Jerilynn Pratap
Ms. Ronna Lastic
Hiroko Spencer
Mr. Jaime Odent
Basil
Aude Dirk, Sr.
Erisa Doss
Lake Main, Jr.
Aniqua Hsin
Ms. Mackenzie Tofer Oshua
Jasonya Etry
Mora Aryl Raif
Sr. Obias Kerry, V
Lane Dwight Rouk
Mr. Noah Alter Giovanni
Ms. Rucila Clyde
Srta. Ulinetta Alastair
Grice Erdar
Arrell Oyuki, Jr.
Milton Farouk, II
Herr Dylan Ewis

Usage

As a standalone program

make                                             # once
java -jar target/$(ls target | grep standalone)  # each time

Or, to install a namejen command in ~/bin (override with BINDIR=...):

make install
namejen 10

As a library

Add to your deps.edn:

eigenhombre/namejen {:mvn/version "0.1.24"}

or to your project.clj:

[eigenhombre/namejen "0.1.24"]

Then,

(require '[namejen.names :as n])

(n/gen-name-data-as-map)
;;=>
{:gender :female
 :first-name "Luette"
 :prefix nil
 :surnames ["Adlai" "Angela" "Stlik"]
 :generation nil}

;; or
(repeatedly 10 n/name-maker)
;;=>
'("Deidra Olas Rafael"
  "Ms. Rochellye Ryce"
  "Xuan Amiltos"
  "Mesha"
  "Mr. Rain Brian"
  "Ms. Rnelieselottie Tendra"
  "Srta. Nora Adrianto"
  "Larence Holly, Jr."
  "Ms. Cheryn Ning"
  "Mr. Nces Line Herbertran")

Several other functions in the namejen.names namespace may be of interest.

See the API docs for comprehensive info.

Building

Build tasks are managed using Make. You will need the following installed locally:

• make
• Java
• the Clojure CLI
• NodeJS

make by itself or make all will perform all the build tasks locally; or, you can build inside a Docker container using make docker.

The build tasks include:

• jar file and überjar (via tools.build; see build.clj)
• Clojure unit tests (Kaocha test runner)
• ClojureScript unit tests (in NodeJS via cljs-test-runner)
• ClojureScript dev and production builds
• linting with clj-kondo
• API doc generation (Codox, output in doc/codox)

See doc/releasing.md for how releases are made.

License

Copyright (C) 2012-2026 John Jacobsen.

Distributed under the Eclipse Public License, the same as Clojure.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.