Operations for generating a unique name for at least one of several data elements include receiving a definition of a data element for which a unique name is to be created. The unique name is to comply with a predefined name format. The definition comprises human-understandable descriptive language. The data element is to identify an information category in an electronic communication. A noun phrase and a verb phrase are identified in the definition, and the unique name is generated using a first noun obtained from the noun phrase and a second noun obtained from the verb phrase. A computer system includes a repository having the data elements stored therein, and a name generating module that receives at least one of the definitions that is associated with one of the data elements and generates a unique name for the data element.