Redact Names
Replace common first names with a redaction marker. Add custom names via the extras field.
+ extras list (0 custom)
About Redact Names
Names are hard to detect automatically — anything could be a name. This tool uses a curated list of ~65 common English first names plus any extras you provide, and replaces whole-word matches with a redaction marker. It catches obvious cases but isn't a substitute for an NLP-aware named-entity recognizer.
When to use it
- Scrubbing common first names from a transcript before sharing
- Anonymizing names in a test fixture or seed-data file
- Removing specific names you supply via the extras field
- Quick pass at name removal in screenshots or documentation
How it works
A regex is built from the union of built-in common names and any extras you list (one per line). Whole-word matches are replaced with the configured marker. Other text — including last names, brands, and capitalized non-name words — is left alone.
Examples
Alice and Bob met for lunch. Sarah joined them later.
[NAME] and [NAME] met for lunch. [NAME] joined them later.
Frequently asked questions
- Why not detect every name?
- There's no universal list — any word could be a name. For high-stakes redaction, use a real NLP named-entity recognition tool. This is a quick-pass utility for common cases.
- Can I add my own names?
- Yes. Use the extras field (one name per line) to add domain-specific names to the redaction list.
- Are last names included?
- Not by default. Add them via the extras field. The built-in list is first names only.