A member naming system is provided for naming members of a dimension in a data analyzing system having a receiver for receiving a pattern. One example of the dimension is a time dimension containing time periods. The pattern has a sequence of pattern components for defining a name. A time period is defined by a start time, an end time, a relationship and a level in a single time hierarchy. The time period naming system further has an interpreter for interpreting the sequence of pattern components, and a generator for generating the time period name based on the interpretation of the sequence of pattern components within a context of the relationship of the time period in the time hierarchy.