namegen.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Random Name Generator.

Combines characters to create a reasonably pronouncable name.
"""

import random
import sys

vowels = ["a","e","i","o","u","y"]
consonants = [
    # Simple
    "b", "c", "d", "f", "g", "h", "j", "k", "l", "m", "n", "p", "q", "r", "s", "t", "v", "w", "x", "y", "z",
    # Compund
    "sh", "ch", "th"
]

def generate_name():
    name_length = random.randint(3,10)
    new_name = ""

    last_was_vowel = False
    last_space = 0
    force_vowel = False
    force_consonant = False

    for i in range(name_length):
        is_vowel = False if force_consonant else (force_vowel or (random.randint(1,2)==1))

        # Generate Space
        if i>(last_space+2) and i<(name_length-2):
            if random.randint(1,3)==1:
                new_name = new_name + " "
                last_space = i

                force_vowel = False
                force_consonant = False

        # Select next character
        next_char_list = vowels if is_vowel else consonants
        new_char = next_char_list[ random.randint(0,len(next_char_list)-1) ]

        # Upper-case if appropriate
        if (last_space==i):
            if len(new_char)<=1:
                new_char = new_char.upper()
            else:
                new_char = new_char[0].upper() + new_char[1:]

        new_name = new_name + new_char

        # Set up flags for next iteration
        force_vowel = (not is_vowel) and (not last_was_vowel)
        force_consonant = is_vowel and last_was_vowel

        last_was_vowel = is_vowel

    return new_name

if __name__ == '__main__':
    name_count = 30

    try:
        name_count = int(sys.argv[1])
    except (ValueError,IndexError) as e:
        pass

    if name_count<0:
        name_count = 0

    print( "\nGenerating Names" )
    print( "----------------" )
    for i in range(name_count):
        print( generate_name() )

    print( f"\nNames generated: {name_count}\n" )
    pass