Implementing a naming service for a hierarchal namespace in a database format. A method includes at a database, wherein the database stores a first table having references to hierarchical nodes in a hierarchical namespace, and a second table with relational references to hierarchical nodes referenced in the first table, detecting an edge modification event changing one or more edges of a node in the hierarchical namespace. The method further includes, as a result, creating a unique row in the second table for the edge modification event in the hierarchical namespace. Any edge modification event results in creation of a unique row in the second table such that different entities can cause overlapping edge modification events that can be documented at the database without transactional conflicts.