string combinations

str_combinations.R

library(gtools)

demo_input <- c("fname midname lname","doe john e") #only 2 'names' in this example list.

split_list <- strsplit(demo_input, " |-")

make_combinations <- function(x){
  # Use permutations from the gtools package
  name_grid <- permutations(3,3,x)
  apply(X=name_grid, MARGIN=1, FUN=paste0, collapse=' ')
}

lapply(X=split_list, FUN=`make_combinations`)

> lapply(X=split_list, FUN=`make_combinations`)
[[1]]
[1] "fname lname midname" "fname midname lname" "lname fname midname" "lname midname fname" "midname fname lname" "midname lname fname"

[[2]]
[1] "doe e john" "doe john e" "e doe john" "e john doe" "john doe e" "john e doe"