import os
from datetime import datetime

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        # the usual lines ...
        TEST_NAME: '{user}_{epoch_ts}_awesome_app'.format(
            user=os.environ.get('USER', os.environ['LOGNAME']),
            # This gives the number of seconds since the UNIX epoch
            epoch_ts=int((datetime.utcnow() - datetime.utcfromtimestamp(0)).total_seconds())
        ),
        # etc
    }
}

from django.conf import settings

# This is bad because settings might still be in the process of being
# configured at this stage.
blah = settings.BLAH

def some_view():
    # This is okay because by the time views are called by Django,
    # the settings are supposed to be all configured.
    blah = settings.BLAH