diff --git a/common/nextpnr.cc b/common/nextpnr.cc
index 2a581cc6..903ab9e4 100644
--- a/common/nextpnr.cc
+++ b/common/nextpnr.cc
@@ -53,6 +53,30 @@ void IdString::initialize_add(const BaseCtx *ctx, const char *s, int idx)
     ctx->idstring_idx_to_str->push_back(&insert_rc.first->first);
 }
 
+const char *BaseCtx::nameOfBel(BelId bel) const
+{
+    const Context *ctx = getCtx();
+    return ctx->getBelName(bel).c_str(ctx);
+}
+
+const char *BaseCtx::nameOfWire(WireId wire) const
+{
+    const Context *ctx = getCtx();
+    return ctx->getWireName(wire).c_str(ctx);
+}
+
+const char *BaseCtx::nameOfPip(PipId pip) const
+{
+    const Context *ctx = getCtx();
+    return ctx->getPipName(pip).c_str(ctx);
+}
+
+const char *BaseCtx::nameOfGroup(GroupId group) const
+{
+    const Context *ctx = getCtx();
+    return ctx->getGroupName(group).c_str(ctx);
+}
+
 WireId Context::getNetinfoSourceWire(const NetInfo *net_info) const
 {
     if (net_info->driver.cell == nullptr)
diff --git a/common/nextpnr.h b/common/nextpnr.h
index 5a0bd4b1..86e781ae 100644
--- a/common/nextpnr.h
+++ b/common/nextpnr.h
@@ -487,13 +487,23 @@ struct BaseCtx
 
     const Context *getCtx() const { return reinterpret_cast<const Context *>(this); }
 
-    template <typename T> const char *nameOf(const T *obj)
+    const char *nameOf(IdString name) const
+    {
+        return name.c_str(this);
+    }
+
+    template <typename T> const char *nameOf(const T *obj) const
     {
         if (obj == nullptr)
             return "";
-        return obj->name.c_str(getCtx());
+        return obj->name.c_str(this);
     }
 
+    const char *nameOfBel(BelId bel) const;
+    const char *nameOfWire(WireId wire) const;
+    const char *nameOfPip(PipId pip) const;
+    const char *nameOfGroup(GroupId group) const;
+
     // --------------------------------------------------------------
 
     bool allUiReload = true;