diff --git a/tools/insert_names.py b/tools/insert_names.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0122d07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/insert_names.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- Mode:python; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil -*- */
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2015, Colorado State University.
+#
+# This file is part of ndn-atmos.
+#
+# ndn-atmos is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+# terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software
+# Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# ndn-atmos is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+# WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received copies of the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser
+# General Public License along with ndn-atmos, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see
+# <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+# See AUTHORS.md for complete list of ndn-atmos authors and contributors.
+
+'''This module is for inserting NDN names in underlying database'''
+
+import mysql.connector as sql
+from mysql.connector import errorcode
+import sys
+import getpass
+import hashlib
+from ndn_cmmap_translators import atmos_translator
+
+def createTables(cursor):
+  TABLES = {}
+  TABLES['cmip5'] = (
+    "CREATE TABLE `cmip5` ("
+    "  `id` int(100) AUTO_INCREMENT NOT NULL,"
+    "  `sha256` varchar(64) UNIQUE NOT NULL,"
+    "  `name` varchar(1000) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `activity` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `product` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `organization` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `model` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `experiment` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `frequency` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `modeling_realm` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `variable_name` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `ensemble` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  `time` varchar(100) NOT NULL,"
+    "  PRIMARY KEY (`id`)"
+    ") ENGINE=InnoDB")
+
+  #check if tables exist, if not create them
+  #create tables per schema in the wiki
+  for tableName, query in TABLES.items():
+    try:
+      print("Creating table {}: ".format(tableName))
+      cursor.execute(query)
+      print("Created table {}: ".format(tableName))
+      return 0
+    except sql.Error as err:
+      if err.errno == errorcode.ER_TABLE_EXISTS_ERROR:
+        print("Table already exists: %s " %(tableName))
+        return 1
+      else:
+        print("Failed to create table: %s" %(err.msg))
+        return -1
+
+def insertNames(cursor, name):
+  if __debug__:
+    print("Name to insert %s " %(name))
+
+  #hashvalue is needed since name is too long for primary key (must be <767 bytes)
+  hashValue =  hashlib.sha256(str(name).encode('utf-8')).hexdigest() 
+  if __debug__:
+    print("Hash of name %s " %(hashValue))
+
+  ##NOTE:must use %s to prevent sql injection in all sql queries
+  splitName = list(filter(None, name.split("/")))
+  splitName.insert(0, hashValue)
+  splitName.insert(0, name)
+  splitName = tuple(splitName)
+  if __debug__:
+    print("Name to insert in database %s" %(splitName))
+
+  addRecord = ("INSERT INTO cmip5 "
+               "(name, sha256, activity, product, organization, model, experiment, frequency,\
+               modeling_realm, variable_name, ensemble, time) "
+               "VALUES (%s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s)")
+
+  try:
+    cursor.execute(addRecord, splitName)
+    print("Inserted record %s" %(name))
+    return 0
+  except sql.Error as err:
+    print("Error inserting name %s" %(err.msg))
+    return -1
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  datafilePath = input("File/directory to translate: ")
+  configFilepath = input("Schema file path for the above file/directory: ")
+
+  #do the translation, the library should provide error messages, if any
+  ndnNames = atmos_translator.args_for_translation(datafilePath, configFilepath)
+  if len(ndnNames) == 0:
+    print("No name returned from the translator, exiting.")
+    sys.exit(-1)
+  if __debug__:
+    print("Returned NDN names: %s" %(ndnNames))
+
+  #open connection to db
+  dbName = input("Database to store NDN names?")
+  dbUsername = input("Database username?")
+  dbPasswd = getpass.getpass("Database password?")
+
+  try:
+    con = sql.connect(user=dbUsername, database=dbName, password=dbPasswd)
+    cursor = con.cursor()
+    if __debug__:
+      print("successfully connected to database")
+
+    #if tables do not exist, create tables
+    res = createTables(cursor)
+    if __debug__:
+      print("Return Code for create_tables: %s" %(res))
+
+    #if error, exit
+    if res == -1:
+      sys.exit(-1)
+
+    #if table already exists, or creation successful, continue
+    if res == 1 or res == 0:
+      for ndnName in ndnNames:
+        #get list of files and insert into database
+        res_insertNames = insertNames(cursor, ndnName)
+        if __debug__:
+          print("Return Code is %s for inserting name: %s" %(res_insertNames, ndnName))
+      con.commit()
+  except sql.Error as err:
+    if err.errno == errorcode.ER_ACCESS_DENIED_ERROR:
+      print("Incorrect username or password")
+    elif err.errno == errorcode.ER_BAD_DB_ERROR:
+      print("Database does not exist")
+    else:
+      print("Error connecting to Database: %s" %(err.msg))
+  finally:
+    con.close()