def get_unique_name(self, name):
        """ returns an available unique name

        Parameters
        ----------
        name : str
            name to be made unique

        Returns
        -------
        unique_name : str
            new unique name

        """

        if name not in self._db:
            self._db[name] = 0
            return name
        else:
            index = self._db[name]
            self._db[name] = index + 1
            return f"{name}_{index}"