diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/datastore/file_templates.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/datastore/file_templates.py
index 7d08be992d..85cbc8d93a 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/datastore/file_templates.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/datastore/file_templates.py
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ def validateTemplate(self, entity: DatasetRef | DatasetType | StorageClass | Non
         # Fall back to dataId keys if we have them but no links.
         # dataId keys must still be present in the template
         try:
-            minimal = set(entity.dimensions.required.names)
+            minimal = set(entity.dimensions.required)
             maximal = set(entity.dimensions.names)
         except AttributeError:
             try:
@@ -888,5 +888,5 @@ def _determine_skypix_alias(self, entity: DatasetRef | DatasetType) -> str | Non
         # update to be more like the real world while still providing our
         # only tests of important behavior.
         if len(entity.dimensions.skypix) == 1:
-            (alias,) = entity.dimensions.skypix.names
+            (alias,) = entity.dimensions.skypix
         return alias
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/dimensions/_coordinate.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/dimensions/_coordinate.py
index af54ad22f1..1817248fe8 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/dimensions/_coordinate.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/dimensions/_coordinate.py
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ def __init__(self, target: DataCoordinate):
     __slots__ = ("_target",)
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        terms = [f"{d}: {self[d]!r}" for d in self._target.dimensions.elements.names]
+        terms = [f"{d}: {self[d]!r}" for d in self._target.dimensions.elements]
         return "{{{}}}".format(", ".join(terms))
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/_storage.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/_storage.py
index 6fd4d65b39..8d409d6921 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/_storage.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/_storage.py
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ def _buildCalibOverlapQuery(
         )
         if data_ids is not None:
             relation = relation.join(
-                context.make_data_id_relation(
-                    data_ids, self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names
-                ).transferred_to(context.sql_engine),
+                context.make_data_id_relation(data_ids, self.datasetType.dimensions.required).transferred_to(
+                    context.sql_engine
+                ),
             )
         return relation
 
@@ -314,9 +314,7 @@ def decertify(
         calib_pkey_tag = DatasetColumnTag(self.datasetType.name, "calib_pkey")
         dataset_id_tag = DatasetColumnTag(self.datasetType.name, "dataset_id")
         timespan_tag = DatasetColumnTag(self.datasetType.name, "timespan")
-        data_id_tags = [
-            (name, DimensionKeyColumnTag(name)) for name in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names
-        ]
+        data_id_tags = [(name, DimensionKeyColumnTag(name)) for name in self.datasetType.dimensions.required]
         # Set up collections to populate with the rows we'll want to modify.
         # The insert rows will have the same values for collection and
         # dataset type.
@@ -509,7 +507,7 @@ def _finish_single_relation(
                 value=collection_col,
             )
         # Add more column definitions, starting with the data ID.
-        for dimension_name in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names:
+        for dimension_name in self.datasetType.dimensions.required:
             payload.columns_available[DimensionKeyColumnTag(dimension_name)] = payload.from_clause.columns[
                 dimension_name
             ]
@@ -692,7 +690,7 @@ def _finish_query_builder(
                     collections, collection_col
                 )
         # Add more column definitions, starting with the data ID.
-        sql_projection.joiner.extract_dimensions(self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names)
+        sql_projection.joiner.extract_dimensions(self.datasetType.dimensions.required)
         # We can always get the dataset_id from the tags/calibs table, even if
         # could also get it from the 'static' dataset table.
         if "dataset_id" in fields:
@@ -794,7 +792,7 @@ def getDataId(self, id: DatasetId) -> DataCoordinate:
         assert row is not None, "Should be guaranteed by caller and foreign key constraints."
         return DataCoordinate.from_required_values(
             self.datasetType.dimensions,
-            tuple(row[dimension] for dimension in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names),
+            tuple(row[dimension] for dimension in self.datasetType.dimensions.required),
         )
 
     def refresh_collection_summaries(self) -> None:
@@ -1062,11 +1060,8 @@ def _validateImport(self, tmp_tags: sqlalchemy.schema.Table, run: RunRecord) ->
                 tags.columns.dataset_id,
                 tags.columns.dataset_type_id.label("type_id"),
                 tmp_tags.columns.dataset_type_id.label("new_type_id"),
-                *[tags.columns[dim] for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names],
-                *[
-                    tmp_tags.columns[dim].label(f"new_{dim}")
-                    for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names
-                ],
+                *[tags.columns[dim] for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required],
+                *[tmp_tags.columns[dim].label(f"new_{dim}") for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required],
             )
             .select_from(tags.join(tmp_tags, tags.columns.dataset_id == tmp_tags.columns.dataset_id))
             .where(
@@ -1074,7 +1069,7 @@ def _validateImport(self, tmp_tags: sqlalchemy.schema.Table, run: RunRecord) ->
                     tags.columns.dataset_type_id != tmp_tags.columns.dataset_type_id,
                     *[
                         tags.columns[dim] != tmp_tags.columns[dim]
-                        for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names
+                        for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required
                     ],
                 )
             )
@@ -1091,7 +1086,7 @@ def _validateImport(self, tmp_tags: sqlalchemy.schema.Table, run: RunRecord) ->
         # Check that matching run+dataId have the same dataset ID.
         query = (
             sqlalchemy.sql.select(
-                *[tags.columns[dim] for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names],
+                *[tags.columns[dim] for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required],
                 tags.columns.dataset_id,
                 tmp_tags.columns.dataset_id.label("new_dataset_id"),
                 tags.columns[collFkName],
@@ -1105,7 +1100,7 @@ def _validateImport(self, tmp_tags: sqlalchemy.schema.Table, run: RunRecord) ->
                         tags.columns[collFkName] == tmp_tags.columns[collFkName],
                         *[
                             tags.columns[dim] == tmp_tags.columns[dim]
-                            for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names
+                            for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required
                         ],
                     ),
                 )
@@ -1116,7 +1111,7 @@ def _validateImport(self, tmp_tags: sqlalchemy.schema.Table, run: RunRecord) ->
         with self._db.query(query) as result:
             # only include the first one in the exception message
             if (row := result.first()) is not None:
-                data_id = {dim: getattr(row, dim) for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required.names}
+                data_id = {dim: getattr(row, dim) for dim in self.datasetType.dimensions.required}
                 existing_collection = self._collections[getattr(row, collFkName)].name
                 new_collection = self._collections[getattr(row, f"new_{collFkName}")].name
                 raise ConflictingDefinitionError(
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/tables.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/tables.py
index 706fc78d54..5729bd2b80 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/tables.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/datasets/byDimensions/tables.py
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ def makeTagTableSpec(
                 target=(collectionFieldSpec.name, "dataset_type_id"),
             )
         )
-    for dimension_name in datasetType.dimensions.required.names:
+    for dimension_name in datasetType.dimensions.required:
         dimension = datasetType.dimensions.universe.dimensions[dimension_name]
         fieldSpec = addDimensionForeignKey(
             tableSpec, dimension=dimension, nullable=False, primaryKey=False, constraint=constraints
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ def makeCalibTableSpec(
         )
     )
     # Add dimension fields (part of the temporal lookup index.constraint).
-    for dimension_name in datasetType.dimensions.required.names:
+    for dimension_name in datasetType.dimensions.required:
         dimension = datasetType.dimensions.universe.dimensions[dimension_name]
         fieldSpec = addDimensionForeignKey(tableSpec, dimension=dimension, nullable=False, primaryKey=False)
         index.append(fieldSpec.name)
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/dimensions/static.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/dimensions/static.py
index 0ffddbe899..6e6178fa57 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/dimensions/static.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/dimensions/static.py
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def _make_common_skypix_join_relation(
         payload.columns_available[DimensionKeyColumnTag(self.universe.commonSkyPix.name)] = (
             payload.from_clause.columns.skypix_index
         )
-        for dimension_name in element.minimal_group.required.names:
+        for dimension_name in element.minimal_group.required:
             payload.columns_available[DimensionKeyColumnTag(dimension_name)] = payload.from_clause.columns[
                 dimension_name
             ]
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ def _make_skypix_overlap_tables(
                     "skypix_system",
                     "skypix_level",
                     "skypix_index",
-                    *element.minimal_group.required.names,
+                    *element.minimal_group.required,
                 ),
             },
             foreignKeys=[
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_builder.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_builder.py
index 4264111b13..ff6f8c7d72 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_builder.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_builder.py
@@ -227,8 +227,8 @@ def finish(self, joinMissing: bool = True) -> Query:
             for family1, family2 in itertools.combinations(self.summary.dimensions.spatial, 2):
                 spatial_joins.append(
                     (
-                        family1.choose(self.summary.dimensions.elements.names, self.summary.universe).name,
-                        family2.choose(self.summary.dimensions.elements.names, self.summary.universe).name,
+                        family1.choose(self.summary.dimensions.elements, self.summary.universe).name,
+                        family2.choose(self.summary.dimensions.elements, self.summary.universe).name,
                     )
                 )
             self.relation = self._backend.make_dimension_relation(
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query.py
index 23d7a26a42..6bd5474472 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query.py
@@ -746,12 +746,8 @@ def find_datasets(
                 # present in each family (e.g. patch beats tract).
                 spatial_joins.append(
                     (
-                        lhs_spatial_family.choose(
-                            full_dimensions.elements.names, self.dimensions.universe
-                        ).name,
-                        rhs_spatial_family.choose(
-                            full_dimensions.elements.names, self.dimensions.universe
-                        ).name,
+                        lhs_spatial_family.choose(full_dimensions.elements, self.dimensions.universe).name,
+                        rhs_spatial_family.choose(full_dimensions.elements, self.dimensions.universe).name,
                     )
                 )
         # Set up any temporal join between the query dimensions and CALIBRATION
@@ -759,7 +755,7 @@ def find_datasets(
         temporal_join_on: set[ColumnTag] = set()
         if any(r.type is CollectionType.CALIBRATION for r in collection_records):
             for family in self._dimensions.temporal:
-                endpoint = family.choose(self._dimensions.elements.names, self.dimensions.universe)
+                endpoint = family.choose(self._dimensions.elements, self.dimensions.universe)
                 temporal_join_on.add(DimensionRecordColumnTag(endpoint.name, "timespan"))
             base_columns_required.update(temporal_join_on)
         # Note which of the many kinds of potentially-missing columns we have
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query_backend.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query_backend.py
index 515d5084e5..bac06c3c3c 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query_backend.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_query_backend.py
@@ -579,9 +579,7 @@ def make_doomed_dataset_relation(
         relation : `lsst.daf.relation.Relation`
             Relation with the requested columns and no rows.
         """
-        column_tags: set[ColumnTag] = set(
-            DimensionKeyColumnTag.generate(dataset_type.dimensions.required.names)
-        )
+        column_tags: set[ColumnTag] = set(DimensionKeyColumnTag.generate(dataset_type.dimensions.required))
         column_tags.update(DatasetColumnTag.generate(dataset_type.name, columns))
         return context.preferred_engine.make_doomed_relation(columns=column_tags, messages=list(messages))
 
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_readers.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_readers.py
index 4f2df136e8..ccb7262497 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_readers.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_readers.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class _BasicDataCoordinateReader(DataCoordinateReader):
 
     def __init__(self, dimensions: DimensionGroup):
         self._dimensions = dimensions
-        self._tags = tuple(DimensionKeyColumnTag(name) for name in self._dimensions.required.names)
+        self._tags = tuple(DimensionKeyColumnTag(name) for name in self._dimensions.required)
 
     __slots__ = ("_dimensions", "_tags")
 
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_sql_query_backend.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_sql_query_backend.py
index 0f0f51c930..07d0c35432 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_sql_query_backend.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_sql_query_backend.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def make_dimension_relation(
                 "out if they have already been added or will be added later."
             )
         for element_name in missing_columns.dimension_records:
-            if element_name not in dimensions.elements.names:
+            if element_name not in dimensions.elements:
                 raise ColumnError(
                     f"Cannot join dimension element {element_name} whose dimensions are not a "
                     f"subset of {dimensions}."
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_structs.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_structs.py
index d470798337..fca11e3700 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_structs.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/queries/_structs.py
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ def _compute_columns_required(
         missing_common_skypix = False
         if region is not None:
             for family in dimensions.spatial:
-                element = family.choose(dimensions.elements.names, self.universe)
+                element = family.choose(dimensions.elements, self.universe)
                 tags.add(DimensionRecordColumnTag(element.name, "region"))
                 if (
                     not isinstance(element, SkyPixDimension)
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/tests/_registry.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/tests/_registry.py
index 8ef96d5746..25c9bdee53 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/tests/_registry.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/registry/tests/_registry.py
@@ -1211,9 +1211,7 @@ def testInstrumentDimensions(self):
                 (ref,) = registry.insertDatasets(rawType, dataIds=[dataId], run=run2)
                 registry.associate(tagged2, [ref])
 
-        dimensions = registry.dimensions.conform(
-            rawType.dimensions.required.names | calexpType.dimensions.required.names
-        )
+        dimensions = registry.dimensions.conform(rawType.dimensions.required | calexpType.dimensions.required)
         # Test that single dim string works as well as list of str
         rows = registry.queryDataIds("visit", datasets=rawType, collections=run1).expanded().toSet()
         rowsI = registry.queryDataIds(["visit"], datasets=rawType, collections=run1).expanded().toSet()
@@ -1337,9 +1335,7 @@ def testSkyMapDimensions(self):
         registry.registerDatasetType(measType)
 
         dimensions = registry.dimensions.conform(
-            calexpType.dimensions.required.names
-            | mergeType.dimensions.required.names
-            | measType.dimensions.required.names
+            calexpType.dimensions.required | mergeType.dimensions.required | measType.dimensions.required
         )
 
         # add pre-existing datasets