Project Codenames generator for Microsoft Excel (.xlsm /macro enabled) using VBA
A codename, also known as a codeword or cryptonym, is a name used to discreetly refer to something or someone while keeping their true identity hidden. These terms—codename, codeword, and cryptonym—are often used interchangeably. Codenames serve to identify projects, products, or operations in a way that conceals their nature from competitors, adversaries, or unauthorized parties. In simpler terms, a codename is an agreed-upon name used to conceal what you're referring to. In industry, codenames are commonly assigned to products during the development phase to safeguard them from competitors. Similarly, in the military, codenames are frequently used to refer to missions or operations, ensuring their details remain confidential.
How this VBA was coded - This code will generate a project codename where: The first output is a random color. The second output is a random animal. The third output is a randomly generated alphanumeric nonce (3 characters long).
How it works (Do not copy from these sub-sections, copy entire VBA code further down below, or on separate file attached to this repository):
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🖍 Color: The code selects a random color from the colors array.
' Define an array of colors colors = Array("Red", "Blue", "Green", "Yellow", "Black", "White", "Orange", "Purple", "Pink", "Gray", "Cyan", "Magenta", "Lime", "Aqua", "Navy", "Maroon") -
🐈 Animal List from Excel: The list of animals is read dynamically from the AnimalsList sheet.
' Find the last row of animals in the AnimalsList sheet With Sheets("AnimalsList") lastRow = .Cells(.Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row Set animalRange = .Range("A1:A" & lastRow) -
🧮 Random Selection: A random color and animal are selected from the arrays, and a nonce is generated.
End With ' Convert the range of animals into an array animals = Application.Transpose(animalRange.Value) ' Generate a random nonce (3-character alphanumeric string) nonce = GenerateNonce(3) ' Generate random indices for color and animal Randomize randomColor = Int((UBound(colors) - LBound(colors) + 1) * Rnd + LBound(colors)) randomAnimal = Int((UBound(animals) - LBound(animals) + 1) * Rnd + LBound(animals)) ' Get the random color and animal color = colors(randomColor) animal = animals(randomAnimal) ' Combine color, animal, and nonce to create the project name projectName = color & " " & animal & " " & nonce -
✅ Result: The code name is a combination of the random color, animal, and nonce.
' Output the generated project code name to a cell Sheets("ProjectCodeName").Range("B2").Value = projectName MsgBox "Your generated project codename is: " & projectName
Name Excel Spreadsheet: "Project_Codename_Generator.xlsm"
Rename "Sheet1" as "ProjectCodeName" Rename "Sheet2" as "AnimalsList"
In column A of the "AnimalsList" sheet, list all the animals starting from cell A1. I have listed the animals I used below, feel free to add as many as you like, the VBA is written to accept as many as you'd like.
Note Make sure if you copy/paste in excel, hit the arrow under the Paste button > Paste Special > Text > OK
Falcon
Phoenix
Eagle
Tiger
Lion
Cheetah
Elephant
Shark
Dolphin
Penguin
Giraffe
Wolf
Bear
Whale
Panther
Crocodile
Leopard
Zebra
Koala
Owl
Horse
Kangaroo
Otter
Swan
Turtle
Fox
Rabbit
Peacock
Hawk
Raccoon
Armadillo
Bison
Cobra
Deer
Flamingo
Gecko
Hedgehog
Iguana
Jackal
Lemur
Meerkat
Narwhal
Ocelot
Parrot
Quokka
Rhinoceros
Salamander
Tortoise
Urial
Vulture
Wombat
Fly
Yak
Panda
Pelican
Djinn
Serval
Dart Frog
Sea Dragon
Tamarin
Komodo Dragon
Pika
Draco
Kudu
Zeta Reticulan
Pleiadian
Anunnaki
Wizard
Warthog
Thule
Reindeer
Optional add a 3rd sheet "CodeName Log" to keep a log of the different Project CodeName's already used, such as:
VBA Code can be copy/pasted into VBA module from the file attached to this repository, see (VBA Code - Module 1), or directly below:
Sub GenerateCodeNameWithExpandedAnimalList()
Dim colors As Variant
Dim animals As Variant
Dim color As String
Dim animal As String
Dim nonce As String
Dim randomColor As Integer
Dim randomAnimal As Integer
Dim projectName As String
Dim animalRange As Range
Dim animalList As Range
Dim lastRow As Long
' Define an array of colors
colors = Array("Red", "Blue", "Green", "Yellow", "Black", "White", "Orange", "Purple", "Pink", "Gray", "Cyan", "Magenta", "Lime", "Aqua", "Navy", "Maroon")
' Find the last row of animals in the AnimalsList sheet
With Sheets("AnimalsList")
lastRow = .Cells(.Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row
Set animalRange = .Range("A1:A" & lastRow)
End With
' Convert the range of animals into an array
animals = Application.Transpose(animalRange.Value)
' Generate a random nonce (3-character alphanumeric string)
nonce = GenerateNonce(3)
' Generate random indices for color and animal
Randomize
randomColor = Int((UBound(colors) - LBound(colors) + 1) * Rnd + LBound(colors))
randomAnimal = Int((UBound(animals) - LBound(animals) + 1) * Rnd + LBound(animals))
' Get the random color and animal
color = colors(randomColor)
animal = animals(randomAnimal)
' Combine color, animal, and nonce to create the project name
projectName = color & " " & animal & " " & nonce
' Output the generated project code name to a cell
Sheets("ProjectCodeName").Range("B2").Value = projectName
MsgBox "Your generated project codename is: " & projectName
End Sub
' Function to generate a random alphanumeric nonce of specified length
Function GenerateNonce(length As Integer) As String
Dim chars As String
Dim result As String
Dim i As Integer
' Characters allowed in the nonce (you can modify this to include other characters)
chars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789"
' Initialize the result string
result = ""
' Randomly select characters from the chars string
For i = 1 To length
result = result & Mid(chars, Int((Len(chars) * Rnd) + 1), 1)
Next i
' Return the generated nonce
GenerateNonce = result
End Function
On "ProjectCodeName" sheet, make sure you set it up so your project name response can populate on cell "B2", which is how this VBA code was setup (or change it in the indicated field on the VBA module):
For ease of convenience, also navigate to the Developer tab on Excel, and under Controls > Insert > Button (under Forms), and draw button next to the B2 cell (select the macro after you have saved it), then right click on button to edit text displayed (used GENERATE here):
The use of cryptonyms combined with nonces is crucial for ensuring compartmentalization in sensitive or classified projects, particularly in fields like intelligence, security, and research. This is a great and easy way to maintain cryptonyms, to add a layer of protection for your projects and maintain compartmentalization. Recommend keeping the cryptonym key with the actual project names (deciphered) in a completely separate file location (as a standalone, preferably), such as on an encrypted cold storage device (password protected) that is in a secure lock box, etc.
Additional ways to add more Security
🔑For more security, password protect the Workbook with a randomly generated password from a secure password generator, such as NordPass Password Generator & Digital Vault.
🔑Add additional characters (including keyboard symbols) to the chars array (characters allowed in the nonce).
🔑Increase the length of the [nonce = GenerateNonce(3)] from (3) to a higher integer (#).
🔑Add additional colors periodically within the VBA code under define array of colors [colors = Array("Red", "Blue", )].
🔑Add additional animals to the AnimalsList sheet of the workbook.
Let us know if you find this helpful and star this project!