CLI tool name generator

Name your CLI tool

A CLI name gets typed hundreds of times a day, so it has to be short, easy on the fingers and not already a command on someone's PATH. Vocari generates candidates, then checks the domain, npm, PyPI, crates.io and GitHub so you don't ship a name you can't publish.

Generate names free →

Opens the generator with a starter brief. Finish the sentence and hit go.

What makes a good name here

  • Two to five letters for the binary

    The brand can be longer than the command. ripgrep ships as rg, and people still say ripgrep. Pick a name that shortens cleanly.

  • Check your PATH before you fall in love

    Run `command -v <name>` on macOS and a Linux box. Colliding with a coreutils or Homebrew binary means users alias around you forever.

  • Type it on a keyboard, not a whiteboard

    Alternating hands and home-row letters beat clever spellings. If you mistype it twice while testing, users will too.

  • Grab the package names together

    Most CLIs ship on Homebrew plus one of npm, PyPI or crates.io. Get the same name on all of them the day you pick it.

Names that got it right

  • gitThree letters, one syllable, and a memorable backstory: Linus Torvalds named it after British slang for an unpleasant person.
  • fzfReads as "fuzzy finder" once you know it, and the letters sit under one hand.
  • batA one-letter change from cat, which tells you exactly what it replaces.
  • jqTwo letters, zero collisions, and it became the verb for querying JSON.

What Vocari checks for you

Every suggestion already has a domain you can register. Open the handles & trademarks panel on any name to check the rest:

  • GitHub handle
  • npm, PyPI and crates.io names
  • Domain (.dev and other short TLDs)
  • Hacker News handle for the Show HN
Try it on your idea →

Questions

How long should a CLI tool name be?
The command itself should be two to five characters if possible. The project can have a longer brand name, as long as it shortens naturally to the binary name.
How do I check if a CLI name is already taken?
Check your PATH (`command -v name`), Homebrew, and the package registry you'll ship on. Vocari checks npm, PyPI, crates.io, GitHub and the domain for any name in one click.