Abstract: Management of hierarchical identifiers in simulation models and netlists is accomplished using a prefix compressor algorithm running on a general purpose computer processor. Full name compression is accomplished when hierarchy data and remainder data are split off and prefix compressed. Compressing prefixes of names in the hierarchy list is performed by comparing a previous entry to a current entry. Compressing prefixes of names in the name list is performed by running an output of compressing of prefixes of names in the hierarchy list and running an output of the compressing of prefixes of names in the name list through a standard compressor software application package. Decompressing of names uses sub operations inverse to the prefix compressor algorithm. The decompressing sub operations create a string pointed to by the prefix pointer and concatenated onto the string pointed to by the name pointer; and thus a full name is created.