diff --git a/ctapipe/calib/camera/calibrator.py b/ctapipe/calib/camera/calibrator.py
index a6eb81c565c..373301ce82b 100644
--- a/ctapipe/calib/camera/calibrator.py
+++ b/ctapipe/calib/camera/calibrator.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 from ctapipe.core import TelescopeComponent
 from ctapipe.core.traits import (
     BoolTelescopeParameter,
+    ComponentName,
     TelescopeParameter,
-    create_class_enum_trait,
 )
 from ctapipe.image.extractor import ImageExtractor
 from ctapipe.image.invalid_pixels import InvalidPixelHandler
@@ -53,19 +53,17 @@ class CameraCalibrator(TelescopeComponent):
         The name of the ImageExtractor subclass to be used for image extraction
     """
 
-    data_volume_reducer_type = create_class_enum_trait(
+    data_volume_reducer_type = ComponentName(
         DataVolumeReducer, default_value="NullDataVolumeReducer"
     ).tag(config=True)
 
     image_extractor_type = TelescopeParameter(
-        trait=create_class_enum_trait(
-            ImageExtractor, default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum"
-        ),
+        trait=ComponentName(ImageExtractor, default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum"),
         default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum",
         help="Name of the ImageExtractor subclass to be used.",
     ).tag(config=True)
 
-    invalid_pixel_handler_type = create_class_enum_trait(
+    invalid_pixel_handler_type = ComponentName(
         InvalidPixelHandler,
         default_value="NeighborAverage",
         help="Name of the InvalidPixelHandler to use",
diff --git a/ctapipe/core/tests/test_traits.py b/ctapipe/core/tests/test_traits.py
index f3dd7bbf45b..1a593367092 100644
--- a/ctapipe/core/tests/test_traits.py
+++ b/ctapipe/core/tests/test_traits.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import os
 import pathlib
 import tempfile
+from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
+from traitlets import CaselessStrEnum, HasTraits, Int
+
 from ctapipe.core import Component, TelescopeComponent
 from ctapipe.core.traits import (
     AstroTime,
@@ -21,7 +24,6 @@
 )
 from ctapipe.image import ImageExtractor
 from ctapipe.utils.datasets import DEFAULT_URL, get_dataset_path
-from traitlets import CaselessStrEnum, HasTraits, Int
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ class C(Component):
 
 
 def test_path_exists():
-    """ require existence of path """
+    """require existence of path"""
 
     class C1(Component):
         thepath = Path(exists=False)
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ class C1(Component):
 
 
 def test_path_directory_ok():
-    """ test path is a directory """
+    """test path is a directory"""
 
     class C(Component):
         thepath = Path(exists=True, directory_ok=False)
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ class C(Component):
 
 
 def test_path_file_ok():
-    """ check that the file is there and not a directory, etc"""
+    """check that the file is there and not a directory, etc"""
 
     class C(Component):
         thepath = Path(exists=True, file_ok=False)
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@ class C(Component):
 
 
 def test_enum_trait_default_is_right():
-    """ check default value of enum trait """
+    """check default value of enum trait"""
     from ctapipe.core.traits import create_class_enum_trait
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ def test_enum_trait_default_is_right():
 
 
 def test_enum_trait():
-    """ check that enum traits are constructable from a complex class """
+    """check that enum traits are constructable from a complex class"""
     from ctapipe.core.traits import create_class_enum_trait
 
     trait = create_class_enum_trait(
@@ -218,7 +220,7 @@ def test_enum_trait():
 
 
 def test_enum_classes_with_traits():
-    """ test that we can get a list of classes that have traits """
+    """test that we can get a list of classes that have traits"""
     list_of_classes = classes_with_traits(ImageExtractor)
     assert list_of_classes  # should not be empty
 
@@ -248,15 +250,15 @@ class MyTool(Tool):
 
 
 def test_has_traits():
-    """ test the has_traits func """
+    """test the has_traits func"""
 
     class WithoutTraits(HasTraits):
-        """ a traits class that has no traits """
+        """a traits class that has no traits"""
 
         pass
 
     class WithATrait(HasTraits):
-        """ a traits class that has a trait """
+        """a traits class that has a trait"""
 
         my_trait = Int()
 
@@ -290,7 +292,7 @@ def test_telescope_parameter_lookup(mock_subarray):
 
 
 def test_telescope_parameter_patterns(mock_subarray):
-    """ Test validation of TelescopeParameters"""
+    """Test validation of TelescopeParameters"""
 
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         TelescopeParameter(trait=int)
@@ -583,3 +585,90 @@ class NoNone(Component):
     c = NoNone()
     with pytest.raises(TraitError):
         c.time = None
+
+
+def test_component_name():
+    from ctapipe.core.traits import ComponentName, ComponentNameList
+
+    class Base(Component, metaclass=ABCMeta):
+        @abstractmethod
+        def stuff(self):
+            pass
+
+    class Foo(Base):
+        def stuff(self):
+            pass
+
+    class Baz(Component):
+        def stuff(self):
+            pass
+
+    class MyComponent(Component):
+        base_name = ComponentName(
+            Base,
+            default_value="Foo",
+            help="A Base instance to do stuff",
+        ).tag(config=True)
+
+        def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+            super().__init__(**kwargs)
+            self.base = Base.from_name(self.base_name, parent=self)
+            self.base.stuff()
+
+    class MyListComponent(Component):
+        base_names = ComponentNameList(
+            Base,
+            default_value=None,
+            allow_none=True,
+        ).tag(config=True)
+
+        def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+            super().__init__(**kwargs)
+            self.bases = []
+
+            if self.base_names is not None:
+                self.bases = [
+                    Base.from_name(name, parent=self) for name in self.base_names
+                ]
+
+            for base in self.bases:
+                base.stuff()
+
+    # this is here so we test that also classes defined after the traitlet
+    # is created work
+    class Bar(Base):
+        def stuff(self):
+            pass
+
+    comp = MyComponent()
+    assert comp.base_name == "Foo"
+
+    comp = MyComponent(base_name="Bar")
+    assert comp.base_name == "Bar"
+
+    with pytest.raises(TraitError):
+        # Base is abstract
+        MyComponent(base_name="Base")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TraitError):
+        # not a subclass of Base
+        MyComponent(base_name="Baz")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TraitError):
+        # not a class at all
+        MyComponent(base_name="slakndklas")
+
+    expected = "A Base instance to do stuff. Possible values: ['Foo', 'Bar']"
+    assert MyComponent.base_name.help == expected
+
+    comp = MyListComponent()
+    assert comp.base_names is None
+
+    comp = MyListComponent(base_names=["Foo", "Bar"])
+    assert comp.base_names == ["Foo", "Bar"]
+
+    with pytest.raises(TraitError):
+        MyListComponent(base_names=["Foo", "Baz"])
+
+    expected = "A list of Base subclass names. Possible values: ['Foo', 'Bar']"
+    assert MyListComponent.base_names.help == expected
diff --git a/ctapipe/core/traits.py b/ctapipe/core/traits.py
index 7821d897ec9..99b2ef7e443 100644
--- a/ctapipe/core/traits.py
+++ b/ctapipe/core/traits.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from astropy.time import Time
 from traitlets import Undefined
 
-from .component import non_abstract_children
+from .component import Component, non_abstract_children
 
 __all__ = [
     # Implemented here
@@ -226,6 +226,69 @@ def create_class_enum_trait(base_class, default_value, help=None, allow_none=Fal
     ).tag(config=True)
 
 
+class ComponentName(Unicode):
+    """A trait that is the name of a Component class"""
+
+    def __init__(self, cls, **kwargs):
+        if not issubclass(cls, Component):
+            raise TypeError(f"cls must be a Component, got {cls}")
+
+        self.cls = cls
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        if "help" not in kwargs:
+            self.help = f"The name of a {cls.__name__} subclass"
+
+    @property
+    def help(self):
+        children = list(self.cls.non_abstract_subclasses())
+        return f"{self._help}. Possible values: {children}"
+
+    @help.setter
+    def help(self, value):
+        self._help = value
+
+    @property
+    def info_text(self):
+        return f"Any of {list(self.cls.non_abstract_subclasses())}"
+
+    def validate(self, obj, value):
+        if self.allow_none and value is None:
+            return None
+
+        if value in self.cls.non_abstract_subclasses():
+            return value
+
+        self.error(obj, value)
+
+
+class ComponentNameList(List):
+    """A trait that is a list of Component classes"""
+
+    def __init__(self, cls, **kwargs):
+        if not issubclass(cls, Component):
+            raise TypeError(f"cls must be a Component, got {cls}")
+
+        self.cls = cls
+        trait = ComponentName(cls)
+        super().__init__(trait=trait, **kwargs)
+
+        if "help" not in kwargs:
+            self.help = f"A list of {cls.__name__} subclass names"
+
+    @property
+    def help(self):
+        children = list(self.cls.non_abstract_subclasses())
+        return f"{self._help}. Possible values: {children}"
+
+    @help.setter
+    def help(self, value):
+        self._help = value
+
+    @property
+    def info_text(self):
+        return f"A list of {list(self.cls.non_abstract_subclasses())}"
+
+
 def classes_with_traits(base_class):
     """Returns a list of the base class plus its non-abstract children
     if they have traits"""
@@ -437,6 +500,7 @@ def __init__(self, trait, default_value=Undefined, **kwargs):
         """
         Create a new TelescopeParameter
         """
+        self._help = ""
 
         if not isinstance(trait, TraitType):
             raise TypeError("trait must be a TraitType instance")
@@ -445,8 +509,20 @@ def __init__(self, trait, default_value=Undefined, **kwargs):
         if default_value != Undefined:
             default_value = self.validate(self, default_value)
 
+        if "help" not in kwargs:
+            self.help = "A TelescopeParameter"
+
         super().__init__(default_value=default_value, **kwargs)
 
+    @property
+    def help(self):
+        sep = "." if not self._help.endswith(".") else ""
+        return f"{self._help}{sep} {self._trait.help}"
+
+    @help.setter
+    def help(self, value):
+        self._help = value
+
     def from_string(self, s):
         val = super().from_string(s)
         # for strings, parsing fails and traitlets returns None
diff --git a/ctapipe/image/extractor.py b/ctapipe/image/extractor.py
index 4caa6dc056e..0e078582ef8 100644
--- a/ctapipe/image/extractor.py
+++ b/ctapipe/image/extractor.py
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
 from ctapipe.core import TelescopeComponent
 from ctapipe.core.traits import (
     BoolTelescopeParameter,
+    ComponentName,
     FloatTelescopeParameter,
     IntTelescopeParameter,
-    create_class_enum_trait,
 )
 
 from .cleaning import tailcuts_clean
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ class TwoPassWindowSum(ImageExtractor):
         default_value=True, help="Apply the integration window correction"
     ).tag(config=True)
 
-    invalid_pixel_handler_type = create_class_enum_trait(
+    invalid_pixel_handler_type = ComponentName(
         InvalidPixelHandler,
         default_value="NeighborAverage",
         help="Name of the InvalidPixelHandler to apply in the first pass.",
diff --git a/ctapipe/image/image_processor.py b/ctapipe/image/image_processor.py
index 0e7e1959601..c07ccc69125 100644
--- a/ctapipe/image/image_processor.py
+++ b/ctapipe/image/image_processor.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     TimingParametersContainer,
 )
 from ..core import QualityQuery, TelescopeComponent
-from ..core.traits import Bool, BoolTelescopeParameter, List, create_class_enum_trait
+from ..core.traits import Bool, BoolTelescopeParameter, ComponentName, List
 from ..instrument import SubarrayDescription
 from .cleaning import ImageCleaner
 from .concentration import concentration_parameters
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ class ImageProcessor(TelescopeComponent):
     Should be run after CameraCalibrator to produce all DL1 information.
     """
 
-    image_cleaner_type = create_class_enum_trait(
-        base_class=ImageCleaner, default_value="TailcutsImageCleaner"
-    )
+    image_cleaner_type = ComponentName(
+        ImageCleaner, default_value="TailcutsImageCleaner"
+    ).tag(config=True)
 
     use_telescope_frame = Bool(
         default_value=True,
diff --git a/ctapipe/image/reducer.py b/ctapipe/image/reducer.py
index a7c609d6b55..f7e63734d53 100644
--- a/ctapipe/image/reducer.py
+++ b/ctapipe/image/reducer.py
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 from ctapipe.core import TelescopeComponent
 from ctapipe.core.traits import (
     BoolTelescopeParameter,
+    ComponentName,
     IntTelescopeParameter,
     TelescopeParameter,
-    create_class_enum_trait,
 )
 from ctapipe.image import TailcutsImageCleaner
 from ctapipe.image.cleaning import dilate
@@ -124,9 +124,7 @@ class TailCutsDataVolumeReducer(DataVolumeReducer):
     """
 
     image_extractor_type = TelescopeParameter(
-        trait=create_class_enum_trait(
-            ImageExtractor, default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum"
-        ),
+        trait=ComponentName(ImageExtractor, default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum"),
         default_value="NeighborPeakWindowSum",
         help="Name of the ImageExtractor subclass to be used.",
     ).tag(config=True)
diff --git a/ctapipe/io/simteleventsource.py b/ctapipe/io/simteleventsource.py
index fa7e72189df..05f31ef79d0 100644
--- a/ctapipe/io/simteleventsource.py
+++ b/ctapipe/io/simteleventsource.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 from ..coordinates import CameraFrame, shower_impact_distance
 from ..core import Map
 from ..core.provenance import Provenance
-from ..core.traits import Bool, Float, Undefined, UseEnum, create_class_enum_trait
+from ..core.traits import Bool, ComponentName, Float, Undefined, UseEnum
 from ..instrument import (
     CameraDescription,
     CameraGeometry,
@@ -448,8 +448,8 @@ class SimTelEventSource(EventSource):
         ),
     ).tag(config=True)
 
-    gain_selector_type = create_class_enum_trait(
-        base_class=GainSelector, default_value="ThresholdGainSelector"
+    gain_selector_type = ComponentName(
+        GainSelector, default_value="ThresholdGainSelector"
     ).tag(config=True)
 
     calib_scale = Float(
diff --git a/ctapipe/reco/shower_processor.py b/ctapipe/reco/shower_processor.py
index 6fa6b4cd008..8c5c32d9996 100644
--- a/ctapipe/reco/shower_processor.py
+++ b/ctapipe/reco/shower_processor.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 """
 from ..containers import ArrayEventContainer
 from ..core import Component
-from ..core.traits import List, create_class_enum_trait
+from ..core.traits import ComponentNameList
 from ..instrument import SubarrayDescription
 from . import Reconstructor
 
@@ -24,13 +24,10 @@ class ShowerProcessor(Component):
     Input events must already contain dl1 parameters.
     """
 
-    reconstructor_types = List(
-        create_class_enum_trait(
-            Reconstructor,
-            default_value="HillasReconstructor",
-        ),
+    reconstructor_types = ComponentNameList(
+        Reconstructor,
         default_value=["HillasReconstructor"],
-        help=f"The stereo geometry reconstructors to be used. Choices are: {list(Reconstructor.non_abstract_subclasses().keys())}",
+        help="The stereo reconstructors to be used",
     ).tag(config=True)
 
     def __init__(