diff --git a/common/archcheck.cc b/common/archcheck.cc
index 412feca9..6efa3a1e 100644
--- a/common/archcheck.cc
+++ b/common/archcheck.cc
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ void archcheck_names(const Context *ctx)
         IdString name = ctx->getWireName(wire);
         WireId wire2 = ctx->getWireByName(name);
         if (wire != wire2) {
-            log_error("wire != wire2, name = %s\n", name.c_str(ctx));
+            log_error("wire != wire2, name = %s\n", ctx->nameOfWire(wire));
         }
     }
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ void archcheck_names(const Context *ctx)
         IdString name = ctx->getPipName(pip);
         PipId pip2 = ctx->getPipByName(name);
         if (pip != pip2) {
-            log_error("pip != pip2, name = %s\n", name.c_str(ctx));
+            log_error("pip != pip2, name = %s\n", ctx->nameOfPip(pip));
         }
     }
 #endif
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void archcheck_locs(const Context *ctx)
                 if (bel == BelId())
                     continue;
                 Loc loc = ctx->getBelLocation(bel);
-                dbg("   + %d %s\n", z, ctx->getBelName(bel).c_str(ctx));
+                dbg("   + %d %s\n", z, ctx->nameOfBel(bel));
                 log_assert(x == loc.x);
                 log_assert(y == loc.y);
                 log_assert(z == loc.z);
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void archcheck_locs(const Context *ctx)
 
             for (BelId bel : ctx->getBelsByTile(x, y)) {
                 Loc loc = ctx->getBelLocation(bel);
-                dbg("   - %d %s\n", loc.z, ctx->getBelName(bel).c_str(ctx));
+                dbg("   - %d %s\n", loc.z, ctx->nameOfBel(bel));
                 log_assert(x == loc.x);
                 log_assert(y == loc.y);
                 log_assert(usedz.count(loc.z));
diff --git a/common/placer1.cc b/common/placer1.cc
index c54c3cf2..280dd02e 100644
--- a/common/placer1.cc
+++ b/common/placer1.cc
@@ -563,9 +563,9 @@ class SAPlacer
         }
         commit_cost_changes(moveChange);
 #if 0
-        log_info("swap %s -> %s\n", cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(newBel).c_str(ctx));
+        log_info("swap %s -> %s\n", cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(newBel));
         if (other_cell != nullptr)
-            log_info("swap %s -> %s\n", other_cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(oldBel).c_str(ctx));
+            log_info("swap %s -> %s\n", other_cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(oldBel));
 #endif
         return true;
     swap_fail:
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ class SAPlacer
     {
         BelId oldBel = cell->bel;
 #if 0
-        log_info("%s old: %s new: %s\n", cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(cell->bel).c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(newBel).c_str(ctx));
+        log_info("%s old: %s new: %s\n", cell->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(cell->bel), ctx->nameOfBel(newBel));
 #endif
         CellInfo *bound = ctx->getBoundBelCell(newBel);
         if (bound != nullptr)
diff --git a/common/timing.cc b/common/timing.cc
index d8445989..9fb14a33 100644
--- a/common/timing.cc
+++ b/common/timing.cc
@@ -885,8 +885,7 @@ void timing_analysis(Context *ctx, bool print_histogram, bool print_fmax, bool p
                         auto pip = it->second.pip;
                         NPNR_ASSERT(pip != PipId());
                         delay = ctx->getPipDelay(pip).maxDelay();
-                        log_info("                 %1.3f %s\n", ctx->getDelayNS(delay),
-                                 ctx->getPipName(pip).c_str(ctx));
+                        log_info("                 %1.3f %s\n", ctx->getDelayNS(delay), ctx->nameOfPip(pip));
                         cursor = ctx->getPipSrcWire(pip);
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/ecp5/globals.cc b/ecp5/globals.cc
index ad99272e..478e5fac 100644
--- a/ecp5/globals.cc
+++ b/ecp5/globals.cc
@@ -238,8 +238,7 @@ class Ecp5GlobalRouter
             if (visit.empty() || visit.size() > 50000) {
                 if (allow_fail)
                     return false;
-                log_error("cannot route global from %s to %s.\n", ctx->getWireName(src).c_str(ctx),
-                          ctx->getWireName(dst).c_str(ctx));
+                log_error("cannot route global from %s to %s.\n", ctx->nameOfWire(src), ctx->nameOfWire(dst));
             }
             cursor = visit.front();
             visit.pop();
@@ -325,8 +324,8 @@ class Ecp5GlobalRouter
         } else {
             // Check for dedicated routing
             if (has_short_route(ctx->getBelPinWire(drv_bel, drv.port), ctx->getBelPinWire(dcc->bel, id_CLKI))) {
-                // log_info("dedicated route %s -> %s\n", ctx->getWireName(ctx->getBelPinWire(drv_bel,
-                // drv.port)).c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(dcc->bel).c_str(ctx));
+                // log_info("dedicated route %s -> %s\n", ctx->nameOfWire(ctx->getBelPinWire(drv_bel,
+                // drv.port)), ctx->nameOfWire(dcc->bel));
                 dedicated_routing = true;
                 return 0;
             }
@@ -347,8 +346,8 @@ class Ecp5GlobalRouter
         while (true) {
 
             if (visit.empty() || visit.size() > 10000) {
-                // log_info ("dist %s -> %s = inf\n", ctx->getWireName(src).c_str(ctx),
-                // ctx->getWireName(dst).c_str(ctx));
+                // log_info ("dist %s -> %s = inf\n", ctx->nameOfWire(src),
+                // ctx->nameOfWire(dst));
                 return false;
             }
             cursor = visit.front();
@@ -372,7 +371,7 @@ class Ecp5GlobalRouter
             cursor = ctx->getPipSrcWire(fnd->second);
             length++;
         }
-        // log_info ("dist %s -> %s = %d\n", ctx->getWireName(src).c_str(ctx), ctx->getWireName(dst).c_str(ctx),
+        // log_info ("dist %s -> %s = %d\n", ctx->nameOfWire(src), ctx->nameOfWire(dst),
         // length);
         return length < thresh;
     }
diff --git a/ecp5/pack.cc b/ecp5/pack.cc
index 8d21c5b3..ed2dfc29 100644
--- a/ecp5/pack.cc
+++ b/ecp5/pack.cc
@@ -1853,7 +1853,7 @@ class Ecp5Packer
             next = upstream.front();
             upstream.pop();
             if (ctx->debug)
-                log_info("    visited %s\n", ctx->getWireName(next).c_str(ctx));
+                log_info("    visited %s\n", ctx->nameOfWire(next));
             IdString basename = ctx->getWireBasename(next);
             if (basename == bnke_name || basename == global_name) {
                 break;
diff --git a/gui/designwidget.cc b/gui/designwidget.cc
index f856b5f6..ff79c3a1 100644
--- a/gui/designwidget.cc
+++ b/gui/designwidget.cc
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ void DesignWidget::onSelectionChanged(int num, const QItemSelection &, const QIt
             addProperty(portInfoItem, QVariant::String, "Name", item.c_str(ctx));
             addProperty(portInfoItem, QVariant::Int, "Type", int(ctx->getBelPinType(bel, item)));
             WireId wire = ctx->getBelPinWire(bel, item);
-            addProperty(portInfoItem, QVariant::String, "Wire", ctx->getWireName(wire).c_str(ctx), ElementType::WIRE);
+            addProperty(portInfoItem, QVariant::String, "Wire", ctx->nameOfWire(wire), ElementType::WIRE);
         }
     } else if (type == ElementType::WIRE) {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock_ui(ctx->ui_mutex);
@@ -644,8 +644,8 @@ void DesignWidget::onSelectionChanged(int num, const QItemSelection &, const QIt
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Type", ctx->getWireType(wire).c_str(ctx));
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::Bool, "Available", ctx->checkWireAvail(wire));
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Bound Net", ctx->nameOf(ctx->getBoundWireNet(wire)), ElementType::NET);
-        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Wire",
-                    ctx->getWireName(ctx->getConflictingWireWire(wire)).c_str(ctx), ElementType::WIRE);
+        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Wire", ctx->nameOfWire(ctx->getConflictingWireWire(wire)),
+                    ElementType::WIRE);
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Net", ctx->nameOf(ctx->getConflictingWireNet(wire)),
                     ElementType::NET);
 
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ void DesignWidget::onSelectionChanged(int num, const QItemSelection &, const QIt
         for (const auto &item : ctx->getWireBelPins(wire)) {
             QString belname = "";
             if (item.bel != BelId())
-                belname = ctx->getBelName(item.bel).c_str(ctx);
+                belname = ctx->nameOfBel(item.bel);
             QString pinname = item.pin.c_str(ctx);
 
             QtProperty *dhItem = addSubGroup(belpinsItem, belname + "-" + pinname);
@@ -707,16 +707,15 @@ void DesignWidget::onSelectionChanged(int num, const QItemSelection &, const QIt
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::Bool, "Available", ctx->checkPipAvail(pip));
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Bound Net", ctx->nameOf(ctx->getBoundPipNet(pip)), ElementType::NET);
         if (ctx->getConflictingPipWire(pip) != WireId()) {
-            addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Wire",
-                        ctx->getWireName(ctx->getConflictingPipWire(pip)).c_str(ctx), ElementType::WIRE);
+            addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Wire", ctx->nameOfWire(ctx->getConflictingPipWire(pip)),
+                        ElementType::WIRE);
         } else {
             addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Wire", "", ElementType::NONE);
         }
         addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Conflicting Net", ctx->nameOf(ctx->getConflictingPipNet(pip)),
                     ElementType::NET);
-        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Src Wire", ctx->getWireName(ctx->getPipSrcWire(pip)).c_str(ctx),
-                    ElementType::WIRE);
-        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Dest Wire", ctx->getWireName(ctx->getPipDstWire(pip)).c_str(ctx),
+        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Src Wire", ctx->nameOfWire(ctx->getPipSrcWire(pip)), ElementType::WIRE);
+        addProperty(topItem, QVariant::String, "Dest Wire", ctx->nameOfWire(ctx->getPipDstWire(pip)),
                     ElementType::WIRE);
 
         QtProperty *attrsItem = addSubGroup(topItem, "Attributes");
@@ -769,14 +768,13 @@ void DesignWidget::onSelectionChanged(int num, const QItemSelection &, const QIt
 
         QtProperty *wiresItem = addSubGroup(topItem, "Wires");
         for (auto &item : net->wires) {
-            auto name = ctx->getWireName(item.first).c_str(ctx);
+            auto name = ctx->nameOfWire(item.first);
 
             QtProperty *wireItem = addSubGroup(wiresItem, name);
             addProperty(wireItem, QVariant::String, "Wire", name, ElementType::WIRE);
 
             if (item.second.pip != PipId())
-                addProperty(wireItem, QVariant::String, "Pip", ctx->getPipName(item.second.pip).c_str(ctx),
-                            ElementType::PIP);
+                addProperty(wireItem, QVariant::String, "Pip", ctx->nameOfPip(item.second.pip), ElementType::PIP);
             else
                 addProperty(wireItem, QVariant::String, "Pip", "", ElementType::PIP);
 
diff --git a/gui/fpgaviewwidget.cc b/gui/fpgaviewwidget.cc
index 67ab80fd..9c90e2c5 100644
--- a/gui/fpgaviewwidget.cc
+++ b/gui/fpgaviewwidget.cc
@@ -779,22 +779,22 @@ void FPGAViewWidget::mouseMoveEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
         rendererArgs_->x = event->x();
         rendererArgs_->y = event->y();
         if (closest.type == ElementType::BEL) {
-            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("BEL\n") + ctx_->getBelName(closest.bel).c_str(ctx_);
+            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("BEL\n") + ctx_->getBelName(closest.bel).str(ctx_);
             CellInfo *cell = ctx_->getBoundBelCell(closest.bel);
             if (cell != nullptr)
                 rendererArgs_->hintText += std::string("\nCELL\n") + ctx_->nameOf(cell);
         } else if (closest.type == ElementType::WIRE) {
-            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("WIRE\n") + ctx_->getWireName(closest.wire).c_str(ctx_);
+            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("WIRE\n") + ctx_->getWireName(closest.wire).str(ctx_);
             NetInfo *net = ctx_->getBoundWireNet(closest.wire);
             if (net != nullptr)
                 rendererArgs_->hintText += std::string("\nNET\n") + ctx_->nameOf(net);
         } else if (closest.type == ElementType::PIP) {
-            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("PIP\n") + ctx_->getPipName(closest.pip).c_str(ctx_);
+            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("PIP\n") + ctx_->getPipName(closest.pip).str(ctx_);
             NetInfo *net = ctx_->getBoundPipNet(closest.pip);
             if (net != nullptr)
                 rendererArgs_->hintText += std::string("\nNET\n") + ctx_->nameOf(net);
         } else if (closest.type == ElementType::GROUP) {
-            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("GROUP\n") + ctx_->getGroupName(closest.group).c_str(ctx_);
+            rendererArgs_->hintText = std::string("GROUP\n") + ctx_->getGroupName(closest.group).str(ctx_);
         } else
             rendererArgs_->hintText = "";
 
diff --git a/ice40/delay.cc b/ice40/delay.cc
index 40dcff16..a3469876 100644
--- a/ice40/delay.cc
+++ b/ice40/delay.cc
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void ice40DelayFuzzerMain(Context *ctx)
 
             printf("%s %d %d %s %s %d %d\n", cursor == dst ? "dst" : "src",
                    int(ctx->chip_info->wire_data[cursor.index].x), int(ctx->chip_info->wire_data[cursor.index].y),
-                   ctx->getWireType(cursor).c_str(ctx), ctx->getWireName(cursor).c_str(ctx), int(delay),
+                   ctx->getWireType(cursor).c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfWire(cursor), int(delay),
                    int(ctx->estimateDelay(cursor, dst)));
 
             if (cursor == src)
diff --git a/ice40/pack.cc b/ice40/pack.cc
index bac8e170..9add84cd 100644
--- a/ice40/pack.cc
+++ b/ice40/pack.cc
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static BelId find_padin_gbuf(Context *ctx, BelId bel, IdString port_name)
     auto wire = ctx->getBelPinWire(bel, port_name);
 
     if (wire == WireId())
-        log_error("BEL '%s' has no global buffer connection available\n", ctx->getBelName(bel).c_str(ctx));
+        log_error("BEL '%s' has no global buffer connection available\n", ctx->nameOfBel(bel));
 
     for (auto src_bel : ctx->getWireBelPins(wire)) {
         if (ctx->getBelType(src_bel.bel) == id_SB_GB && src_bel.pin == id_GLOBAL_BUFFER_OUTPUT) {
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ static void place_plls(Context *ctx)
             if (conflict_cell == ci)
                 continue;
             log_error("PLL '%s' PACKAGEPIN forces it to BEL %s but BEL is already assigned to PLL '%s'\n",
-                      ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(found_bel).c_str(ctx), conflict_cell->name.c_str(ctx));
+                      ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(found_bel), conflict_cell->name.c_str(ctx));
         }
 
         // Is it user constrained ?
@@ -849,8 +849,7 @@ static void place_plls(Context *ctx)
             if (bel_constrain != found_bel)
                 log_error("PLL '%s' is user constrained to %s but can only be placed in %s based on its PACKAGEPIN "
                           "connection\n",
-                          ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(bel_constrain).c_str(ctx),
-                          ctx->getBelName(found_bel).c_str(ctx));
+                          ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(bel_constrain), ctx->nameOfBel(found_bel));
         } else {
             // No, we can constrain it ourselves
             ci->attrs[ctx->id("BEL")] = ctx->getBelName(found_bel).str(ctx);
@@ -999,7 +998,7 @@ static void place_plls(Context *ctx)
                 log_error("PLL '%s' couldn't be placed anywhere, no suitable BEL found.%s\n", ci->name.c_str(ctx),
                           could_be_pad ? " Did you mean to use a PAD PLL ?" : "");
 
-            log_info("  constrained PLL '%s' to %s\n", ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->getBelName(found_bel).c_str(ctx));
+            log_info("  constrained PLL '%s' to %s\n", ci->name.c_str(ctx), ctx->nameOfBel(found_bel));
             if (could_be_pad)
                 log_info("  (given its connections, this PLL could have been a PAD PLL)\n");