diff --git a/headers/meta.hpp/meta_registry.hpp b/headers/meta.hpp/meta_registry.hpp
index feb24ae..149189a 100644
--- a/headers/meta.hpp/meta_registry.hpp
+++ b/headers/meta.hpp/meta_registry.hpp
@@ -21,88 +21,152 @@ namespace meta_hpp
 {
     class registry {
     public:
+        template < typename T >
+        std::optional<type> resolve() const {
+            return detail::find_opt(family_to_types_, get_family_id<T>());
+        }
+
         template < auto T >
         std::optional<type> resolve() const {
-            const family_id fid = get_family_id<decltype(T)>();
-            return detail::find_opt(family_to_types_, fid);
+            return resolve<decltype(T)>();
         }
 
         template < typename T >
-        std::optional<type> resolve() const {
-            const family_id fid = get_family_id<T>();
-            return detail::find_opt(family_to_types_, fid);
+        std::optional<type> resolve(T&&) const {
+            return resolve<std::decay_t<T>>();
         }
 
-        template < typename T >
-        std::optional<type> resolve(const T&) const {
-            const family_id fid = get_family_id<T>();
-            return detail::find_opt(family_to_types_, fid);
+        std::optional<class_info> get_class_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_classes_, name);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<field_info> get_field_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_fields_, name);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<function_info> get_function_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_functions_, name);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<method_info> get_method_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_methods_, name);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<namespace_info> get_namespace_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_namespaces_, name);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<variable_info> get_variable_by_name(std::string_view name) const {
+            return detail::find_opt(name_to_variables_, name);
         }
 
         template < typename... Internals >
         registry& operator()(Internals&&...internals) {
-            (add_(std::forward<Internals>(internals)), ...);
+            (add_(std::string{}, std::forward<Internals>(internals)), ...);
             return *this;
         }
     private:
-        void add_(const class_info& info) {
-            family_to_types_.emplace(info.fid(), info);
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const class_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
 
-            info.each_class([this](const class_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_classes_, name, info, &class_info::merge);
+            detail::merge_with(family_to_types_, info.fid(), info, &type::merge);
 
-            info.each_field([this](const field_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_function([this](const function_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_method([this](const method_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_variable([this](const variable_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
             });
         }
 
-        void add_(const field_info& info) {
-            family_to_types_.emplace(info.fid(), info);
-        }
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const field_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
 
-        void add_(const function_info& info) {
-            family_to_types_.emplace(info.fid(), info);
-        }
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_fields_, name, info, &field_info::merge);
+            detail::merge_with(family_to_types_, info.fid(), info, &type::merge);
 
-        void add_(const method_info& info) {
-            family_to_types_.emplace(info.fid(), info);
-        }
-
-        void add_(const namespace_info& info) {
-            info.each_class([this](const class_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_function([this](const function_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_namespace([this](const namespace_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
-            });
-
-            info.each_variable([this](const variable_info& internal){
-                add_(internal);
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
             });
         }
 
-        void add_(const variable_info& info) {
-            family_to_types_.emplace(info.fid(), info);
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const function_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
+
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_functions_, name, info, &function_info::merge);
+            detail::merge_with(family_to_types_, info.fid(), info, &type::merge);
+
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const method_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
+
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_methods_, name, info, &method_info::merge);
+            detail::merge_with(family_to_types_, info.fid(), info, &type::merge);
+
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const namespace_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
+
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_namespaces_, name, info, &namespace_info::merge);
+
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        void add_(const std::string& prefix, const variable_info& info) {
+            const std::string name = prefix.empty()
+                ? info.id()
+                : prefix + "::" + info.id();
+
+            detail::merge_with(name_to_variables_, name, info, &variable_info::merge);
+            detail::merge_with(family_to_types_, info.fid(), info, &type::merge);
+
+            info.visit(overloaded {
+                [](const data_info&) {},
+                [this, &name](const auto& internal){
+                    add_(name, internal);
+                }
+            });
         }
     private:
         std::map<family_id, type, std::less<>> family_to_types_;
+        std::map<std::string, class_info, std::less<>> name_to_classes_;
+        std::map<std::string, field_info, std::less<>> name_to_fields_;
+        std::map<std::string, function_info, std::less<>> name_to_functions_;
+        std::map<std::string, method_info, std::less<>> name_to_methods_;
+        std::map<std::string, namespace_info, std::less<>> name_to_namespaces_;
+        std::map<std::string, variable_info, std::less<>> name_to_variables_;
     };
 }
diff --git a/headers/meta.hpp/meta_type.hpp b/headers/meta.hpp/meta_type.hpp
index c2a5ab1..01033e9 100644
--- a/headers/meta.hpp/meta_type.hpp
+++ b/headers/meta.hpp/meta_type.hpp
@@ -31,19 +31,83 @@ namespace meta_hpp
         type(Info&& info)
         : info_{std::forward<Info>(info)} {}
 
-        bool is_class() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<class_info>(info_); }
-        bool is_field() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<field_info>(info_); }
-        bool is_function() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<function_info>(info_); }
-        bool is_method() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<method_info>(info_); }
-        bool is_namespace() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<namespace_info>(info_); }
-        bool is_variable() const noexcept { return std::holds_alternative<variable_info>(info_); }
+        bool is_class() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<class_info>(info_);
+        }
 
-        const class_info& get_class_info() const { return std::get<class_info>(info_); }
-        const field_info& get_field_info() const { return std::get<field_info>(info_); }
-        const function_info& get_function_info() const { return std::get<function_info>(info_); }
-        const method_info& get_method_info() const { return std::get<method_info>(info_); }
-        const namespace_info& get_namespace_info() const { return std::get<namespace_info>(info_); }
-        const variable_info& get_variable_info() const { return std::get<variable_info>(info_); }
+        bool is_field() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<field_info>(info_);
+        }
+
+        bool is_function() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<function_info>(info_);
+        }
+
+        bool is_method() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<method_info>(info_);
+        }
+
+        bool is_namespace() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<namespace_info>(info_);
+        }
+
+        bool is_variable() const noexcept {
+            return std::holds_alternative<variable_info>(info_);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<class_info> get_class() const {
+            if ( const class_info* info = std::get_if<class_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        std::optional<field_info> get_field() const {
+            if ( const field_info* info = std::get_if<field_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        std::optional<function_info> get_function() const {
+            if ( const function_info* info = std::get_if<function_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        std::optional<method_info> get_method() const {
+            if ( const method_info* info = std::get_if<method_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        std::optional<namespace_info> get_namespace() const {
+            if ( const namespace_info* info = std::get_if<namespace_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        std::optional<variable_info> get_variable() const {
+            if ( const variable_info* info = std::get_if<variable_info>(&info_); info ) {
+                return *info;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        void merge(const type& other) {
+            if ( info_.index() != other.info_.index() ) {
+                throw std::logic_error("type::merge failed");
+            }
+            std::visit(overloaded {
+                [&other](auto& info){
+                    using info_type = std::remove_reference_t<decltype(info)>;
+                    info.merge(std::get<info_type>(other.info_));
+                }
+            }, info_);
+        }
     private:
         std::variant<
             class_info,
diff --git a/untests/meta_examples.cpp b/untests/meta_examples.cpp
index 8c97308..1c377ef 100644
--- a/untests/meta_examples.cpp
+++ b/untests/meta_examples.cpp
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/examples/advanced") {
     ivec3 v3{1,2,3};
 
     type v3_type = db.resolve(v3).value();
-    class_info v3_info = v3_type.get_class_info();
+    class_info v3_info = v3_type.get_class().value();
 
     std::cout << "class " << v3_info.id() << std::endl;
 
diff --git a/untests/meta_registry_tests.cpp b/untests/meta_registry_tests.cpp
index 7dce6b8..1ab1574 100644
--- a/untests/meta_registry_tests.cpp
+++ b/untests/meta_registry_tests.cpp
@@ -68,13 +68,22 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         )
     );
 
+    SUBCASE("get_xxx_by_name") {
+        CHECK(registry.get_class_by_name("vmath::ivec2"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_field_by_name("vmath::ivec2::x"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_function_by_name("vmath::iadd2"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_method_by_name("vmath::ivec2::dot"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_namespace_by_name("vmath"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_variable_by_name("vmath::ivec2::zero"));
+    }
+
     SUBCASE("class_template") {
         CHECK(registry.resolve<ivec2>());
 
         const meta::type ivec2_type = registry.resolve<ivec2>().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_type.is_class());
 
-        const meta::class_info& ivec2_info = ivec2_type.get_class_info();
+        const meta::class_info ivec2_info = ivec2_type.get_class().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_info.id() == "ivec2");
     }
 
@@ -85,7 +94,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec3_type = registry.resolve(v3).value();
         CHECK(ivec3_type.is_class());
 
-        const meta::class_info& ivec3_info = ivec3_type.get_class_info();
+        const meta::class_info ivec3_info = ivec3_type.get_class().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_info.id() == "ivec3");
     }
 
@@ -95,7 +104,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec2_x_type = registry.resolve<&ivec2::x>().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_x_type.is_field());
 
-        const meta::field_info& ivec2_x_info = ivec2_x_type.get_field_info();
+        const meta::field_info ivec2_x_info = ivec2_x_type.get_field().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_x_info.id() == "x");
     }
 
@@ -105,7 +114,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec3_x_type = registry.resolve<&ivec3::x>().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_x_type.is_field());
 
-        const meta::field_info& ivec3_x_info = ivec3_x_type.get_field_info();
+        const meta::field_info ivec3_x_info = ivec3_x_type.get_field().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_x_info.id() == "x");
     }
 
@@ -115,7 +124,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type iadd2_type = registry.resolve<&iadd2>().value();
         CHECK(iadd2_type.is_function());
 
-        const meta::function_info& iadd2_info = iadd2_type.get_function_info();
+        const meta::function_info iadd2_info = iadd2_type.get_function().value();
         CHECK(iadd2_info.id() == "iadd2");
     }
 
@@ -125,7 +134,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type iadd3_type = registry.resolve<&iadd3>().value();
         CHECK(iadd3_type.is_function());
 
-        const meta::function_info& iadd3_info = iadd3_type.get_function_info();
+        const meta::function_info iadd3_info = iadd3_type.get_function().value();
         CHECK(iadd3_info.id() == "iadd3");
     }
 
@@ -135,7 +144,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec2_dot_type = registry.resolve<&ivec2::dot>().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_dot_type.is_method());
 
-        const meta::method_info& ivec2_dot_info = ivec2_dot_type.get_method_info();
+        const meta::method_info ivec2_dot_info = ivec2_dot_type.get_method().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_dot_info.id() == "dot");
     }
 
@@ -145,7 +154,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec3_dot_type = registry.resolve<&ivec3::dot>().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_dot_type.is_method());
 
-        const meta::method_info& ivec3_dot_info = ivec3_dot_type.get_method_info();
+        const meta::method_info ivec3_dot_info = ivec3_dot_type.get_method().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_dot_info.id() == "dot");
     }
 
@@ -155,7 +164,7 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec2_zero_type = registry.resolve<&ivec2::zero>().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_zero_type.is_variable());
 
-        const meta::variable_info& ivec2_x_info = ivec2_zero_type.get_variable_info();
+        const meta::variable_info ivec2_x_info = ivec2_zero_type.get_variable().value();
         CHECK(ivec2_x_info.id() == "zero");
     }
 
@@ -165,7 +174,54 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/registry") {
         const meta::type ivec3_zero_type = registry.resolve<&ivec3::zero>().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_zero_type.is_variable());
 
-        const meta::variable_info& ivec3_x_info = ivec3_zero_type.get_variable_info();
+        const meta::variable_info ivec3_x_info = ivec3_zero_type.get_variable().value();
         CHECK(ivec3_x_info.id() == "zero");
     }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("meta/registry/merge") {
+    namespace meta = meta_hpp;
+    using namespace std::string_literals;
+
+    auto registry = meta::registry{};
+
+    SUBCASE("class") {
+        registry(
+            meta::class_<ivec2>("ivec2")(
+                meta::field_<&ivec2::x>("x")
+            ));
+
+        registry(
+            meta::class_<ivec2>("ivec2")(
+                meta::field_<&ivec2::y>("y")
+            ));
+
+        CHECK(registry.resolve<ivec2>());
+        CHECK(registry.resolve<ivec2>()->get_class());
+        CHECK(registry.resolve<ivec2>()->get_class()->get_field("x"));
+        CHECK(registry.resolve<ivec2>()->get_class()->get_field("y"));
+
+        CHECK(registry.resolve(ivec2{}));
+        CHECK(registry.resolve(ivec2{})->get_class());
+        CHECK(registry.resolve(ivec2{})->get_class()->get_field("x"));
+        CHECK(registry.resolve(ivec2{})->get_class()->get_field("y"));
+
+        CHECK(registry.get_class_by_name("ivec2"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_class_by_name("ivec2")->get_field("x"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_class_by_name("ivec2")->get_field("y"));
+    }
+
+    SUBCASE("namespace") {
+        registry(
+            meta::namespace_("vmath")(
+                meta::class_<ivec2>("ivec2")));
+
+        registry(
+            meta::namespace_("vmath")(
+                meta::class_<ivec3>("ivec3")));
+
+        CHECK(registry.get_namespace_by_name("vmath"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_namespace_by_name("vmath")->get_class("ivec2"));
+        CHECK(registry.get_namespace_by_name("vmath")->get_class("ivec3"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/untests/meta_type_tests.cpp b/untests/meta_type_tests.cpp
index 919c577..4e94218 100644
--- a/untests/meta_type_tests.cpp
+++ b/untests/meta_type_tests.cpp
@@ -33,25 +33,44 @@ TEST_CASE("meta/type") {
 
     meta::type class_type = meta::class_<clazz>("clazz");
     CHECK(class_type.is_class());
-    CHECK(class_type.get_class_info().id() == "clazz");
+    CHECK(class_type.get_class()->id() == "clazz");
 
     meta::type field_type = meta::field_<&clazz::field>("field");
     CHECK(field_type.is_field());
-    CHECK(field_type.get_field_info().id() == "field");
+    CHECK(field_type.get_field()->id() == "field");
 
     meta::type function_type = meta::function_<&clazz::function>("function");
     CHECK(function_type.is_function());
-    CHECK(function_type.get_function_info().id() == "function");
+    CHECK(function_type.get_function()->id() == "function");
 
     meta::type method_type = meta::method_<&clazz::method>("method");
     CHECK(method_type.is_method());
-    CHECK(method_type.get_method_info().id() == "method");
+    CHECK(method_type.get_method()->id() == "method");
 
     meta::type namespace_type = meta::namespace_("ns");
     CHECK(namespace_type.is_namespace());
-    CHECK(namespace_type.get_namespace_info().id() == "ns");
+    CHECK(namespace_type.get_namespace()->id() == "ns");
 
     meta::type variable_type = meta::variable_<&clazz::variable>("variable");
     CHECK(variable_type.is_variable());
-    CHECK(variable_type.get_variable_info().id() == "variable");
+    CHECK(variable_type.get_variable()->id() == "variable");
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("meta/type/merge") {
+    namespace meta = meta_hpp;
+    using namespace std::string_literals;
+
+    {
+        meta::type clazz_type = meta::class_<clazz>("clazz")(
+            meta::field_<&clazz::field>("field")
+        );
+
+        clazz_type.merge(meta::class_<clazz>("clazz")(
+            meta::function_<&clazz::function>("function")
+        ));
+
+        REQUIRE(clazz_type.is_class());
+        CHECK(clazz_type.get_class()->get_field("field"));
+        CHECK(clazz_type.get_class()->get_function("function"));
+    }
 }