Docker names

How Docker container names work

When Docker creates a container without an explicit --name, it can assign a human-readable name. The pattern is simple: one adjective, one surname, and a separator. Docker's default separator is an underscore, so a generated container name looks like admiring_curie.

1. Pick a random adjective such as admiring, bold, or zen.
2. Pick a random surname such as hopper, turing, or torvalds.
3. Join them with _ for Docker-style names, or - for DNS-friendly names.

How many Docker names are possible?

This generator uses 108 adjectives and 236 surnames from Docker's naming vocabulary. That creates 25,488 raw adjective/surname pairs. Docker also skips boring_wozniak, leaving 25,487 names that can actually be generated.

Underscore or dash?

Use underscores when you want names that match Docker's default style: quirky_einstein. Use dashes when the name will appear in a subdomain, URL, demo environment, or other place where quirky-einstein is easier to use.

Using names with Docker

To name a container yourself, pass a generated name to docker run --name. For example:

docker run --name serene_hopper nginx

The generator can also copy one command per generated name, which is handy when you create a short batch for local testing or demos.

Random Docker name examples

• bold_turing
• focused_hopper
• serene_tesla
• vibrant_lovelace
• jolly_blackwell
• dazzling_fermat

When these names are useful

Docker-style names are useful anywhere a memorable random identifier beats a raw UUID: local containers, preview apps, staging environments, demo subdomains, classroom exercises, hackathon teams, and throwaway internal tools.

Source

The vocabulary comes from Docker's open source implementation in the Moby project: names-generator.go.

Need names now? Use the Docker name generator.