diff --git a/amqp_relay.ml b/amqp_relay.ml
index a74c295..63f7567 100644
--- a/amqp_relay.ml
+++ b/amqp_relay.ml
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ type connection_t = {
     mtx: Mutex.t;
     cin: in_channel;
     cout: out_channel;
-    name: Uuid.t;
+    name: Node.name;
     mutable input_buf: string;
     mutable output_buf: Buffer.t;
     mutable frame_max: int;
     mutable connection_closed: bool;
-    mutable recent_queue_name: string option;
+    mutable recent_queue_name: Node.name option;
     mutable delivery_tag: int
   }
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ let amqp_boot (peername, mtx, cin, cout) = {
   mtx = mtx;
   cin = cin;
   cout = cout;
-  name = Uuid.create ();
+  name = Node.name_of_string (Uuid.create ());
   input_buf = String.create initial_frame_size;
   output_buf = Buffer.create initial_frame_size;
   frame_max = initial_frame_size;
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ let get_recent_queue_name conn =
 let expand_mrdq conn queue =
   match queue with
   | "" -> get_recent_queue_name conn
-  | other -> other
+  | other -> Node.name_of_string other
 
 let handle_method conn channel m =
   if channel > 1 then die channel_error "Unsupported channel number" else ();
@@ -269,27 +269,27 @@ let handle_method conn channel m =
   | Channel_close_ok ->
       ()
   | Exchange_declare (exchange, type_, passive, durable, no_wait, arguments) ->
-      Node.send_ignore "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str type_,
-						  Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str exchange],
-						  Sexp.Str conn.name,
-						  Sexp.Str "Exchange_declare_reply"))
+      Node.send_ignore' "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str type_,
+						   Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str exchange],
+						   Sexp.Str conn.name.Node.label,
+						   Sexp.Str "Exchange_declare_reply"))
   | Queue_declare (queue, passive, durable, exclusive, auto_delete, no_wait, arguments) ->
       let queue = (if queue = "" then Uuid.create () else queue) in
-      conn.recent_queue_name <- Some queue;
-      Node.send_ignore "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "queue",
-						  Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str queue],
-						  Sexp.Str conn.name,
-						  Sexp.Str "Queue_declare_reply"))
+      conn.recent_queue_name <- Some (Node.name_of_string queue);
+      Node.send_ignore' "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "queue",
+						   Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str queue],
+						   Sexp.Str conn.name.Node.label,
+						   Sexp.Str "Queue_declare_reply"))
   | Queue_bind (queue, exchange, routing_key, no_wait, arguments) ->
       let queue = expand_mrdq conn queue in
       if not (Node.approx_exists queue)
-      then send_warning conn not_found ("Queue "^queue^" not found")
+      then send_warning conn not_found ("Queue "^queue.Node.label^" not found")
       else
-	if Node.send exchange (Message.subscribe (Sexp.Str routing_key,
-						  Sexp.Str queue,
-						  Sexp.Str "",
-						  Sexp.Str conn.name,
-						  Sexp.Str "Queue_bind_reply"))
+	if Node.send' exchange (Message.subscribe (Sexp.Str routing_key,
+						   Sexp.Str queue.Node.label,
+						   Sexp.Str "",
+						   Sexp.Str conn.name.Node.label,
+						   Sexp.Str "Queue_bind_reply"))
 	then ()
 	else send_warning conn not_found ("Exchange "^exchange^" not found")
   | Basic_consume (queue, consumer_tag, no_local, no_ack, exclusive, no_wait, arguments) ->
@@ -297,16 +297,16 @@ let handle_method conn channel m =
       let consumer_tag = (if consumer_tag = "" then Uuid.create () else consumer_tag) in
       if Node.send queue (Message.subscribe
 			    (Sexp.Str "",
-			     Sexp.Str conn.name,
+			     Sexp.Str conn.name.Node.label,
 			     Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "delivery"; Sexp.Str consumer_tag],
-			     Sexp.Str conn.name,
+			     Sexp.Str conn.name.Node.label,
 			     Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "Basic_consume_reply"; Sexp.Str consumer_tag]))
       then ()
-      else send_warning conn not_found ("Queue "^queue^" not found")
+      else send_warning conn not_found ("Queue "^queue.Node.label^" not found")
   | Basic_publish (exchange, routing_key, false, false) ->
       let (_, (body_size, properties)) = next_header conn in
       let body = recv_content_body conn body_size in
-      if Node.post exchange
+      if Node.post' exchange
 	  (Sexp.Str routing_key)
 	  (Sexp.Hint {Sexp.hint = Sexp.Str "amqp";
 		      Sexp.body = Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str exchange;
@@ -400,11 +400,11 @@ let start (s, peername) =
     amqp_boot amqp_handler amqp_mainloop (s, peername)
 
 let init () =
-  Node.send_ignore "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "direct",
-					      Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "amq.direct"],
-					      Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str ""));
-  Node.send_ignore "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "fanout",
-					      Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "amq.fanout"],
-					      Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str ""));
+  Node.send_ignore' "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "direct",
+					       Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "amq.direct"],
+					       Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str ""));
+  Node.send_ignore' "factory" (Message.create (Sexp.Str "fanout",
+					       Sexp.Arr [Sexp.Str "amq.fanout"],
+					       Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str ""));
   ignore (Util.create_daemon_thread
 	    "AMQP listener" None (Net.start_net "AMQP" Amqp_spec.port) start)
diff --git a/directnode.ml b/directnode.ml
index 9effdba..d34f514 100644
--- a/directnode.ml
+++ b/directnode.ml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ open Datastructures
 open Status
 
 type t = {
-    name: string;
+    name: Node.name;
     subscriptions: Subscription.set_t;
     mtx: Mutex.t;
     mutable routing_table: UuidSet.t StringMap.t;
@@ -76,14 +76,16 @@ let route_message info n sexp =
 
 let factory arg =
   match arg with
-  | (Arr [Str name]) ->
+  | (Arr [Str name_str]) ->
       let info = {
-	name = name;
+	name = Node.name_of_string name_str;
 	subscriptions = Subscription.new_set ();
 	mtx = Mutex.create ();
 	routing_table = StringMap.empty;
       } in
-      replace_ok (Node.make_idempotent_named classname name (route_message info)) (Str name)
+      replace_ok
+	(Node.make_idempotent_named classname info.name (route_message info))
+	(Str name_str)
   | _ ->
       Problem (Str "bad-arg")
 
diff --git a/factory.ml b/factory.ml
index 9c551ab..5afbd33 100644
--- a/factory.ml
+++ b/factory.ml
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ let factory_handler n sexp =
 	    Log.warn "Node class not found" [Str classname];
 	    Message.create_failed (Arr [Str "factory"; Str "class-not-found"])
       in
-      Node.post_ignore reply_sink (Str reply_name) reply (Str "")
+      Node.post_ignore' reply_sink (Str reply_name) reply (Str "")
   | m ->
       Util.message_not_understood "factory" m
 
 let init () =
-  Node.bind_ignore ("factory", Node.make "factory" factory_handler)
+  Node.bind_ignore (Node.name_of_string "factory", Node.make "factory" factory_handler)
diff --git a/fanoutnode.ml b/fanoutnode.ml
index ad5417c..b25abdd 100644
--- a/fanoutnode.ml
+++ b/fanoutnode.ml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ open Datastructures
 open Status
 
 type t = {
-    name: string;
+    name: Node.name;
     subscriptions: Subscription.set_t;
     mtx: Mutex.t;
   }
@@ -51,13 +51,15 @@ let route_message info n sexp =
 
 let factory arg =
   match arg with
-  | (Arr [Str name]) ->
+  | (Arr [Str name_str]) ->
       let info = {
-	name = name;
+	name = Node.name_of_string name_str;
 	subscriptions = Subscription.new_set ();
 	mtx = Mutex.create ();
       } in
-      replace_ok (Node.make_idempotent_named classname name (route_message info)) (Str name)
+      replace_ok
+	(Node.make_idempotent_named classname info.name (route_message info))
+	(Str name_str)
   | _ ->
       Problem (Str "bad-arg")
 
diff --git a/hop_server.ml b/hop_server.ml
index 3dc3783..7a50779 100644
--- a/hop_server.ml
+++ b/hop_server.ml
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@
 (* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License *)
 (* along with Hop.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>. *)
 
+let n_system_log = Node.name_of_string "system.log"
+
 let hook_log () =
   let old_hook = !Log.hook in
   let new_hook label body =
-    ignore (Node.post "system.log" (Sexp.Str label) body (Sexp.Str ""));
+    ignore (Node.post n_system_log (Sexp.Str label) body (Sexp.Str ""));
     old_hook label body
   in
   Log.hook := new_hook
diff --git a/meta.ml b/meta.ml
index 602ea49..521ea84 100644
--- a/meta.ml
+++ b/meta.ml
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@
 
 open Sexp
 
+let n_meta = Node.name_of_string "meta"
+
 let announce_subscription source filter sink name on_off =
-  Node.post_ignore "meta" (Str source)
+  Node.post_ignore n_meta (Str source.Node.label)
     (if on_off
-    then Message.subscribed (Str source, filter, Str sink, name)
-    else Message.unsubscribed (Str source, filter, Str sink, name))
+    then Message.subscribed (Str source.Node.label, filter, Str sink, name)
+    else Message.unsubscribed (Str source.Node.label, filter, Str sink, name))
     (Str "")
 
 let init () =
-  Node.send_ignore "factory" (Message.create (Str "direct", Arr [Str "meta"], Str "", Str ""))
+  Node.send_ignore' "factory" (Message.create (Str "direct", Arr [Str "meta"], Str "", Str ""))
diff --git a/node.ml b/node.ml
index 2a67b81..e62f7b5 100644
--- a/node.ml
+++ b/node.ml
@@ -25,9 +25,29 @@ and t = {
     class_name: string;
     handle_message: handle_message_t
   }
+and name = {
+    label: string;
+    mutable binding: t option
+  }
+
+module NameTable = Weak.Make(struct
+  type t = name
+  let equal a b = (a.label = b.label)
+  let hash a = Hashtbl.hash a.label
+end)
+module NameSet = Set.Make(struct
+  type t = name
+  let compare a b = String.compare a.label b.label
+end)
 
 let mutex = Mutex.create ()
-let directory = ref StringMap.empty
+let name_table = NameTable.create 100
+let directory = ref NameSet.empty
+
+let name_of_string str =
+  Util.with_mutex0 mutex (fun () ->
+    let template = {label = str; binding = None} in
+    NameTable.merge name_table template)
 
 let local_container_name () = "server"
 
@@ -37,27 +57,27 @@ let make class_name handler = {
   handle_message = handler
 }
 
-let lookup name =
-  try Some (StringMap.find name !directory)
-  with Not_found -> None
+let lookup name = name.binding
 
-let all_node_names () = string_map_keys !directory
+let all_node_names () = NameSet.elements !directory
+let all_node_name_strings () = List.map (fun x -> x.label) (all_node_names ())
 
 (* Approximate because it doesn't lock or run in a transaction *)
-let approx_exists name = StringMap.mem name !directory
+let approx_exists name =
+  match name.binding with
+  | Some _ -> true
+  | None -> false
 
 let bind (filter, node) =
-  if filter = ""
+  if filter.label = ""
   then (Log.warn "Binding to empty name forbidden" []; false)
   else
-    Util.with_mutex0 mutex
-      (fun () ->
-	if StringMap.mem filter !directory
-	then false
-	else (directory := StringMap.add filter node !directory;
-	      node.names <- StringSet.add filter node.names;
-	      Log.info "Node bound" [Sexp.Str filter; Sexp.Str node.class_name];
-	      true))
+    Util.with_mutex0 mutex (fun () ->
+      filter.binding <- Some node;
+      directory := NameSet.add filter !directory;
+      node.names <- StringSet.add filter.label node.names;
+      Log.info "Node bound" [Sexp.Str filter.label; Sexp.Str node.class_name];
+      true)
 
 (* For use in factory constructor functions, hence the odd return type and values *)
 let make_named class_name node_name handler =
@@ -76,19 +96,19 @@ let make_idempotent_named class_name node_name handler =
       if bind (node_name, node) then Ok node else Problem (Sexp.Str "bind-failed")
 
 let unbind name =
-  Util.with_mutex0 mutex
-    (fun () ->
-      match lookup name with
-      | Some n ->
-	  Log.info "Node unbound" [Sexp.Str name; Sexp.Str n.class_name];
-	  n.names <- StringSet.remove name n.names;
-	  directory := StringMap.remove name !directory;
-	  true
-      | None ->
-	  false)
+  Util.with_mutex0 mutex (fun () ->
+    match lookup name with
+    | Some n ->
+	Log.info "Node unbound" [Sexp.Str name.label; Sexp.Str n.class_name];
+	n.names <- StringSet.remove name.label n.names;
+	name.binding <- None;
+	directory := NameSet.remove name !directory;
+	true
+    | None ->
+	false)
 
 let unbind_all n =
-  StringSet.iter (fun name -> ignore (unbind name)) n.names;
+  StringSet.iter (fun name -> ignore (unbind (name_of_string name))) n.names;
   n.names <- StringSet.empty
 
 let send name body =
@@ -97,23 +117,31 @@ let send name body =
       (try n.handle_message n body
       with e ->
 	Log.warn "Node message handler raised exception"
-	  [Sexp.Str name;
+	  [Sexp.Str name.label;
 	   Sexp.Str (Printexc.to_string e)]);
       true
   | None -> false
 
+let send' str body = send (name_of_string str) body
+
 let post name label body token =
   send name (Message.post (label, body, token))
 
+let post' str label body token = post (name_of_string str) label body token
+
 let bind_ignore (filter, node) =
   if bind (filter, node)
   then ()
-  else Log.warn "Duplicate binding" [Sexp.Str filter]
+  else Log.warn "Duplicate binding" [Sexp.Str filter.label]
 
 let send_ignore name body =
-  if send name body || name = ""
+  if send name body || name.label = ""
   then ()
-  else Log.warn "send to missing node" [Sexp.Str name; body]
+  else Log.warn "send to missing node" [Sexp.Str name.label; body]
+
+let send_ignore' str body = send_ignore (name_of_string str) body
 
 let post_ignore name label body token =
   send_ignore name (Message.post (label, body, token))
+
+let post_ignore' str label body token = post_ignore (name_of_string str) label body token
diff --git a/queuenode.ml b/queuenode.ml
index 4a597ba..6206892 100644
--- a/queuenode.ml
+++ b/queuenode.ml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ open Sexp
 open Status
 
 type t = {
-    name: string;
+    name: Node.name;
     subscriptions: Subscription.set_t;
     ch: Message.t Squeue.t;
     mutable backlog: Sexp.t Queue.t;
@@ -83,17 +83,17 @@ let shoveller info =
 
 let queue_factory arg =
   match arg with
-  | (Arr [Str name]) ->
+  | (Arr [Str name_str]) ->
       let info = {
-	name = name;
+	name = Node.name_of_string name_str;
 	subscriptions = Subscription.new_set ();
 	ch = Squeue.create 1000;
 	backlog = Queue.create ();
 	waiters = Queue.create ()
       } in
-      ignore (Util.create_thread name None shoveller info);
+      ignore (Util.create_thread name_str None shoveller info);
       let queue_handler n sexp = Squeue.add (Message.message_of_sexp sexp) info.ch in
-      replace_ok (Node.make_idempotent_named classname name queue_handler) (Str name)
+      replace_ok (Node.make_idempotent_named classname info.name queue_handler) (Str name_str)
   | _ ->
       Problem (Str "bad-arg")
 
diff --git a/relay.ml b/relay.ml
index 609afe0..4e87d9c 100644
--- a/relay.ml
+++ b/relay.ml
@@ -31,17 +31,17 @@ let send_sexp_syntax_error ch explanation =
 let dispatch_message n ch m =
   match m with
   | Message.Post (Str name, body, token) ->
-      Node.send_ignore name body
+      Node.send_ignore' name body
   | Message.Subscribe (Str filter, sink, name, Str reply_sink, Str reply_name) ->
-      if Node.bind(filter, n)
-      then Node.post_ignore
+      if Node.bind (Node.name_of_string filter, n)
+      then Node.post_ignore'
 	  reply_sink
 	  (Str reply_name)
 	  (Message.subscribe_ok (Str filter))
 	  (Str "")
       else Log.warn "Bind failed" [Str filter]
   | Message.Unsubscribe (Str token) ->
-      if Node.unbind token
+      if Node.unbind (Node.name_of_string token)
       then ()
       else Log.warn "Unbind failed" [Str token]
   | _ ->
diff --git a/subscription.ml b/subscription.ml
index ab95b1c..c590e86 100644
--- a/subscription.ml
+++ b/subscription.ml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ type t = {
     mutable live: bool;
     uuid: Uuid.t;
     filter: Sexp.t;
-    sink: string;
+    sink: Node.name;
     name: Sexp.t
   }
 
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ let new_set () = ref StringMap.empty
 
 let count subs = StringMap.cardinal !subs
 
-let create source subs filter sink name reply_sink reply_name =
+let create source subs filter sink_str name reply_sink reply_name =
   let uuid = Uuid.create () in
+  let sink = Node.name_of_string sink_str in
   let sub = {
     live = true;
     uuid = uuid;
@@ -41,8 +42,8 @@ let create source subs filter sink name reply_sink reply_name =
     name = name
   } in
   subs := StringMap.add uuid sub !subs;
-  Meta.announce_subscription source filter sink name true;
-  Node.post_ignore reply_sink reply_name (Message.subscribe_ok (Sexp.Str uuid)) (Sexp.Str "");
+  Meta.announce_subscription source filter sink_str name true;
+  Node.post_ignore' reply_sink reply_name (Message.subscribe_ok (Sexp.Str uuid)) (Sexp.Str "");
   sub
 
 let delete source subs uuid =
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ let delete source subs uuid =
     let sub = StringMap.find uuid !subs in
     sub.live <- false;
     subs := StringMap.remove uuid !subs;
-    Meta.announce_subscription source sub.filter sub.sink sub.name false;
+    Meta.announce_subscription source sub.filter sub.sink.Node.label sub.name false;
     Some sub
   with Not_found ->
     None
diff --git a/ui_main.ml b/ui_main.ml
index e2fc772..280c20d 100644
--- a/ui_main.ml
+++ b/ui_main.ml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ let cleanup_req id exn =
   | None -> ()
 
 let start (s, peername) =
-  let id = "http-" ^ Uuid.create () in
+  let id = Node.name_of_string ("http-" ^ Uuid.create ()) in
   Util.create_thread (Connections.endpoint_name peername ^ " HTTP service")
     (Some (cleanup_req id))
     (Httpd.main (handle_req id))
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ let api_server_stats _ id r =
   |> Httpd.add_date_header
 
 let api_nodes _ id r =
-  Json.resp_ok [] (Json.Rec ["nodes", Json.Arr (List.map Json.str (Node.all_node_names ()))])
+  Json.resp_ok [] (Json.Rec ["nodes", Json.Arr (List.map Json.str (Node.all_node_name_strings ()))])
   |> Httpd.add_date_header
 
 let api_node_info suffix id r =
-  (match Node.lookup suffix with
+  (match Node.lookup (Node.name_of_string suffix) with
   | Some n ->
       Json.resp_ok [] (Json.Rec
 			 ["names", Json.Arr (List.map Json.str (StringSet.elements n.Node.names));
diff --git a/ui_relay.ml b/ui_relay.ml
index f93875b..84cbecb 100644
--- a/ui_relay.ml
+++ b/ui_relay.ml
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ let rec api_tap_source id r =
   if not (Node.bind (id, n))
   then Httpd.http_error_html 500 "Internal ID collision" []
   else
-    let id_block_and_padding = Stringstream.const_flush (id ^ ";" ^ String.make 2048 'h' ^ ";") in
+    let id_block_and_padding =
+      Stringstream.const_flush (id.Node.label ^ ";" ^ String.make 2048 'h' ^ ";") in
     handle_message n (Message.subscribe (Sexp.Str (Node.local_container_name()),
 					 Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str "",
 					 Sexp.Str "", Sexp.Str ""));
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ let api_tap_sink irrelevant_id r =
 	    with _ -> Httpd.http_error_html 406 "Bad data parameter" []) in
 	  (match Message.message_of_sexp data with
 	  | Message.Post (Sexp.Str name, body, token) ->
-	      Node.send_ignore name body;
+	      Node.send_ignore' name body;
 	      Httpd.resp_generic 202 "Accepted" [] (Httpd.empty_content)
 	  | _ ->
 	      Httpd.http_error_html 406 "Message not understood" [])