diff --git a/src/GPU/pair_eam_alloy_gpu.cpp b/src/GPU/pair_eam_alloy_gpu.cpp
index 275838385c..08ffaef978 100644
--- a/src/GPU/pair_eam_alloy_gpu.cpp
+++ b/src/GPU/pair_eam_alloy_gpu.cpp
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ void PairEAMAlloyGPU::read_file(char *filename)
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
     PotentialFileReader reader(PairEAM::lmp, filename,
-                               "EAMAlloy", unit_convert_flag);
+                               "eam/alloy", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/GPU/pair_eam_fs_gpu.cpp b/src/GPU/pair_eam_fs_gpu.cpp
index 271cb313da..a82107749b 100644
--- a/src/GPU/pair_eam_fs_gpu.cpp
+++ b/src/GPU/pair_eam_fs_gpu.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ void PairEAMFSGPU::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(PairEAM::lmp, filename, "EAMFS",
+    PotentialFileReader reader(PairEAM::lmp, filename, "eam/fs",
                                unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_alloy_kokkos.cpp b/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_alloy_kokkos.cpp
index 2f03c5b00e..bea1b28544 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_alloy_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_alloy_kokkos.cpp
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ void PairEAMAlloyKokkos<DeviceType>::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMAlloy", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/alloy", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_fs_kokkos.cpp b/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_fs_kokkos.cpp
index 3bd5c644c6..978883ab58 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_fs_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/pair_eam_fs_kokkos.cpp
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ void PairEAMFSKokkos<DeviceType>::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMFS", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/fs", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
index 23cff55ca2..74fd03e080 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ void PairADP::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "ADP");
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "adp");
 
     try {
       reader.skip_line();
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
index 73af9e1acf..085905192e 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
@@ -3363,17 +3363,17 @@ void PairAIREBO::read_file(char *filename)
     std::string header;
     switch (variant) {
     case AIREBO:
-      potential_name = "AIREBO";
+      potential_name = "airebo";
       header = "# AIREBO ";
       break;
 
     case REBO_2:
-      potential_name = "REBO2";
+      potential_name = "rebo";
       header = "# REBO2 ";
       break;
 
     case AIREBO_M:
-      potential_name = "Cannot open AIREBO-M";
+      potential_name = "airebo/morse";
       header = "# AIREBO-M ";
       break;
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
index 0a944c20a4..5b080c9f0e 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
@@ -4914,7 +4914,7 @@ void _noopt PairBOP::read_table(char *filename)
 {
   if (comm->me == 0) {
     try {
-      PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "BOP");
+      PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "bop");
 
       bop_types = reader.next_int();
       elements = new char*[bop_types];
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
index ce42dcd82e..8c5871b71c 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ void PairComb::read_file(char *file)
 
   // open file on proc 0
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "COMB");
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "comb");
     char * line;
 
     while((line = reader.next_line(NPARAMS_PER_LINE))) {
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
index 289225608c..db6caa3d40 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ void PairComb3::read_lib()
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
     try {
-      PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, "lib.comb3", "COMB3");
+      PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, "lib.comb3", "comb3");
       reader.next_dvector(ccutoff, 6);
       reader.next_dvector(ch_a, 7);
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
index ba347ccf96..da2385237b 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ void PairEAM::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAM", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
index 1d6148f8f3..3e33d40ee4 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void PairEAMAlloy::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMAlloy", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/alloy", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
index 654c64bbd5..fbe6bee529 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void PairEAMFS::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMFS", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/fs", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
index 7b84de9de9..4321bd9f8b 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ EIMPotentialFileReader::EIMPotentialFileReader(LAMMPS *lmp,
   conversion_factor = utils::get_conversion_factor(utils::ENERGY,unit_convert);
 
   if (fp == NULL) {
-    error->one(FLERR, fmt::format("cannot open EIM potential file {}", filename));
+    error->one(FLERR, fmt::format("cannot open eim potential file {}", filename));
   }
 
   parse(fp);
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
index 32b48f7eca..9b995e4b99 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ void PairGW::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "GW", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "gw", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
index ddc70174f6..97c1d01b93 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void PairGWZBL::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "GW/ZBL", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "gw/zbl", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
index 68ce28e9a1..3445680833 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
@@ -356,8 +356,7 @@ void PairSW::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "Stillinger-Weber",
-                               unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "sw", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
index d690c96497..928550e9c5 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ void PairTersoff::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "Tersoff", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "tersoff", unit_convert_flag);
     char *line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
index 6a60b0855c..64ce66c0cf 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void PairTersoffMOD::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "TersoffMod", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "tersoff/mod", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
index da14463112..c4c86577e2 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void PairTersoffMODC::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "TersoffModC", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "tersoff/mod/c", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
index adf78fe070..ac6694ccda 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ void PairTersoffZBL::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "TersoffZBL", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "tersoff/zbl", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
index 1b905a259b..61ee8b0fc0 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ void PairVashishta::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "Vashishta", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "vashishta", unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_alloy_intel.cpp b/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_alloy_intel.cpp
index 15c6a985ce..31430e4bf7 100644
--- a/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_alloy_intel.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_alloy_intel.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void PairEAMAlloyIntel::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMAlloy", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/alloy", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_fs_intel.cpp b/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_fs_intel.cpp
index f0306f7426..c5804922f6 100644
--- a/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_fs_intel.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-INTEL/pair_eam_fs_intel.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void PairEAMFSIntel::read_file(char *filename)
 
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "EAMFS", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, filename, "eam/fs", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
index 590a32c2c6..53719508ca 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ void PairTersoffTable::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "TersoffTable", unit_convert_flag);
+    PotentialFileReader reader(lmp, file, "tersoff/table", unit_convert_flag);
     char *line;
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_alloy_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_alloy_omp.cpp
index 552bab14cd..3e0e423f3d 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_alloy_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_alloy_omp.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void PairEAMAlloyOMP::read_file(char *filename)
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
     PotentialFileReader reader(PairEAM::lmp, filename,
-                               "EAMAlloy", unit_convert_flag);
+                               "eam/alloy", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_fs_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_fs_omp.cpp
index 5e9c76fa86..76e9840a5c 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_fs_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/pair_eam_fs_omp.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void PairEAMFSOMP::read_file(char *filename)
   // read potential file
   if(comm->me == 0) {
     PotentialFileReader reader(PairEAM::lmp, filename,
-                               "EAMFS", unit_convert_flag);
+                               "eam/fs", unit_convert_flag);
 
     // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
index fa6e84c71b..489baf41f1 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void PairTersoffZBLOMP::read_file(char *file)
   // open file on proc 0
 
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    PotentialFileReader reader(PairTersoff::lmp, file, "TersoffZBLOMP",
+    PotentialFileReader reader(PairTersoff::lmp, file, "tersoff/zbl",
                                unit_convert_flag);
     char * line;