diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 01149b4a9b..e062b3ea61 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -591,6 +591,19 @@ if (BOUT_USE_SCOREP)
 endif()
 set(BOUT_HAS_SCOREP ${BOUT_USE_SCOREP})
 
+option(BOUT_USE_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR "Enable support for using a system UUID generator" ON)
+if (BOUT_USE_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR)
+  find_package(Libuuid QUIET)
+  if (Libuuid_FOUND)
+    target_link_libraries(bout++
+      PUBLIC Libuuid::libuuid)
+  else()
+    message(STATUS "libuuid not found, using fallback UUID generator")
+  endif()
+endif()
+message(STATUS "UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR: ${BOUT_USE_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR}")
+set(BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR ${BOUT_USE_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR})
+
 include(CheckCXXSourceCompiles)
 check_cxx_source_compiles("int main() { const char* name = __PRETTY_FUNCTION__; }"
   HAS_PRETTY_FUNCTION)
diff --git a/autoconf_build_defines.hxx.in b/autoconf_build_defines.hxx.in
index fa2d95d3e8..f6556bbdee 100644
--- a/autoconf_build_defines.hxx.in
+++ b/autoconf_build_defines.hxx.in
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@
 /* SUNDIALS support */
 #undef BOUT_HAS_SUNDIALS
 
+/* Use libuuid for UUID generation */
+#undef BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
+
 /* OpenMP schedule */
 #undef BOUT_OPENMP_SCHEDULE
 
diff --git a/cmake/FindLibuuid.cmake b/cmake/FindLibuuid.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..91880487a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/FindLibuuid.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# FindLibuuid
+# ----------
+#
+# Find a libuuid UUID generator library
+#
+# This module will define the following variables:
+#
+# ::
+#
+#   Libuuid_FOUND - true if Libuuid was found
+#   Libuuid_INCLUDE_DIRS - Location of the Libuuid includes
+#   Libuuid_LIBRARIES - Required libraries
+#
+# This module will also export the ``Libuuid::libuuid`` target.
+#
+# You can also set the following variables:
+#
+# ``Libuuid_ROOT``
+#   Specify the path to the Libuuid installation to use
+#
+# ``Libuuid_DEBUG``
+#   Set to TRUE to get extra debugging output
+
+include (FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+
+if (WIN32)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libuuid DEFAULT_MSG)
+  return()
+endif()
+
+if (APPLE)
+  find_library(CFLIB CoreFoundation)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libuuid DEFAULT_MSG CFLIB)
+  mark_as_advanced(${CFLIB})
+
+  if (Libuuid_FOUND AND NOT TARGET Libuuid::libuuid)
+    add_library(Libuuid::libuuid UNKNOWN IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(Libuuid::libuuid PROPERTIES
+      IMPORTED_LOCATION ${CFLIB}
+      )
+  endif()
+  return()
+endif ()
+
+find_path(Libuuid_INCLUDE_DIRS uuid/uuid.h)
+find_library(Libuuid_LIBRARIES uuid)
+
+find_package_handle_standard_args(Libuuid DEFAULT_MSG Libuuid_LIBRARIES Libuuid_INCLUDE_DIRS)
+
+mark_as_advanced(Libuuid_LIBRARIES Libuuid_INCLUDE_DIRS)
+
+if (Libuuid_FOUND AND NOT TARGET Libuuid::libuuid)
+  add_library(Libuuid::libuuid UNKNOWN IMPORTED)
+  set_target_properties(Libuuid::libuuid PROPERTIES
+    IMPORTED_LOCATION "${Libuuid_LIBRARIES}"
+    INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${Libuuid_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
+    )
+endif()
diff --git a/cmake_build_defines.hxx.in b/cmake_build_defines.hxx.in
index f7bee53892..8ca9ed0cb9 100644
--- a/cmake_build_defines.hxx.in
+++ b/cmake_build_defines.hxx.in
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_HAS_SCOREP
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_HAS_SLEPC
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_HAS_SUNDIALS
+#cmakedefine01 BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_USE_COLOR
 #cmakedefine01 BOUT_USE_OPENMP
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 0c4e13bee2..891b8edb0a 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -636,6 +636,7 @@ BOUT_USE_OPENMP
 BOUT_USE_OUTPUT_DEBUG
 BOUT_USE_COLOR
 BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE
+BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
 BOUT_HAS_SUNDIALS
 BOUT_HAS_SLEPC
 BOUT_HAS_SCOREP
@@ -810,6 +811,7 @@ with_pvode
 with_arkode
 with_scorep
 with_system_mpark
+with_system_uuid
 enable_warnings
 enable_checks
 enable_signal
@@ -1505,6 +1507,7 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-scorep           Enable support for scorep based instrumentation
   --with-system-mpark     Use mpark.variant already installed rather then the
                           bundled one
+  --with-system-uuid      Use libuuid to generate UUIDs
   --with-openmp-schedule=static/dynamic/guided/auto
                           Set OpenMP schedule (default: static)
   --with-gcov=GCOV        use given GCOV for coverage (GCOV=gcov).
@@ -2653,6 +2656,13 @@ else
 fi
 
 
+# Check whether --with-system_uuid was given.
+if test "${with_system_uuid+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_system_uuid;
+else
+  with_system_uuid=auto
+fi
+
 
 # Check whether --enable-warnings was given.
 if test "${enable_warnings+set}" = set; then :
@@ -10571,6 +10581,273 @@ fi
   OWN_MPARK=yes
 
 fi
+
+#############################################################
+# Check for libuuid
+#############################################################
+
+if test ".$with_system_uuid" = "no"; then :
+
+  BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no
+
+else
+
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for system UUID generator" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for system UUID generator... " >&6; }
+
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for uuid/uuid.h" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for uuid/uuid.h... " >&6; }
+
+  save_CPPFLAGS=$CPPFLAGS
+  BACH_found=no
+
+  if test ."$with_system_uuid" != .yes; then :
+  extra_prefix="$with_system_uuid"
+else
+  extra_prefix=""
+fi
+
+  cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+    #include <uuid/uuid.h>
+
+int
+main ()
+{
+
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_cxx_try_compile "$LINENO"; then :
+  BACH_found=yes
+
+
+        break
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
+
+  if test $BACH_found != yes; then :
+
+    for search_prefix in $extra_prefix /usr /opt $HOME $HOME/local /usr/local
+    do
+      for path in $search_prefix $search_prefix/include
+      do
+        if test -d $path; then :
+
+          CPPFLAGS="$save_CPPFLAGS -I$path"
+
+
+          cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+              #include <uuid/uuid.h>
+
+int
+main ()
+{
+
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_cxx_try_compile "$LINENO"; then :
+  BACH_found=yes
+             EXTRA_INCS="$EXTRA_INCS -I$path"
+
+
+             break
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
+
+fi
+      done
+      if test .$BACH_found = .yes; then :
+  break;
+fi
+    done
+
+fi
+
+  if test $BACH_found = yes; then :
+
+    { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+
+else
+
+    { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+    CPPFLAGS=$save_CPPFLAGS
+
+fi
+  if test .$BACH_found = .yes; then :
+
+  save_LIBS=$LIBS
+  save_LDFLAGS=$LDFLAGS
+  save_CPPFLAGS=$CPPFLAGS
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for libuuid" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for libuuid... " >&6; }
+  ac_ext=cpp
+ac_cpp='$CXXCPP $CPPFLAGS'
+ac_compile='$CXX -c $CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext >&5'
+ac_link='$CXX -o conftest$ac_exeext $CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS $LDFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext $LIBS >&5'
+ac_compiler_gnu=$ac_cv_cxx_compiler_gnu
+
+  BACL_found=no
+
+  # Try with no extra libraries first
+  if test ."$with_system_uuid" = .yes; then :
+  extra_prefix=""
+else
+  extra_prefix="$with_system_uuid"
+fi
+  LIBS="$save_LIBS $EXTRA_LIBS"
+  cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+    extern "C"
+    char uuid_generate();
+
+int
+main ()
+{
+return uuid_generate();
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_cxx_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
+  BACL_found=yes
+
+
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
+    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
+  LIBS=$save_LIBS
+
+  # Now try with explicitly linking library
+  if test $BACL_found != yes; then :
+
+    LIBS="$save_LIBS $EXTRA_LIBS -luuid"
+    if test ."$with_system_uuid" = .yes; then :
+  extra_prefix=""
+else
+  extra_prefix="$with_system_uuid"
+fi
+    cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+      extern "C"
+      char uuid_generate();
+
+int
+main ()
+{
+return uuid_generate();
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_cxx_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
+  BACL_found=yes
+     EXTRA_LIBS="$EXTRA_LIBS -luuid"
+
+
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
+    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
+
+fi
+
+  if test $BACL_found != yes; then :
+
+    for search_prefix in $extra_prefix /usr /opt $HOME $HOME/local /usr/local ; do
+      for path in $search_prefix $search_prefix/lib $search_prefix/lib64 $search_prefix/x86_64-linux-gnu
+      do
+        if test -d $path; then :
+
+          LIBS="$save_LIBS $EXTRA_LIBS -luuid"
+          LDFLAGS="$save_LDFLAGS -L$path"
+
+
+          cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+            extern "C"
+            char uuid_generate();
+
+int
+main ()
+{
+return uuid_generate();
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_cxx_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
+  BACL_found=yes
+           EXTRA_LIBS="$EXTRA_LIBS -L$path -luuid"
+
+
+           break
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
+    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
+
+fi
+      done
+      if test .$BACL_found = .yes; then :
+  break;
+fi
+    done
+
+fi
+
+   if test $BACL_found = yes; then :
+
+     { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+
+else
+
+     { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+
+fi
+
+   if test $BACL_found = yes; then :
+  BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=yes
+else
+  BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no
+fi
+
+   LIBS=$save_LIBS
+   LDFLAGS=$save_LDFLAGS
+   CPPFLAGS=$save_CPPFLAGS
+   ac_ext=cpp
+ac_cpp='$CXXCPP $CPPFLAGS'
+ac_compile='$CXX -c $CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext >&5'
+ac_link='$CXX -o conftest$ac_exeext $CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS $LDFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext $LIBS >&5'
+ac_compiler_gnu=$ac_cv_cxx_compiler_gnu
+
+
+else
+  BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no
+fi
+
+  if test "$with_system_uuid" = "yes"; then :
+
+   { { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: error: in \`$ac_pwd':" >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error: in \`$ac_pwd':" >&2;}
+as_fn_error $? "*** System UUID generator not found, but explicitly requested
+See \`config.log' for more details" "$LINENO" 5; }
+
+fi
+
+fi
+
 #############################################################
 # Download + Build PVODE '98
 #############################################################
@@ -14974,6 +15251,18 @@ fi
 
 
 
+if test "x$BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR" = "xyes"; then :
+
+$as_echo "#define BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR 1" >>confdefs.h
+
+else
+
+$as_echo "#define BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR 0" >>confdefs.h
+
+fi
+
+
+
 if test "x$BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE" = "xyes"; then :
 
 $as_echo "#define BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE 1" >>confdefs.h
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 263bbc074a..3a6be1a0f6 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(scorep,       [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-scorep],
         [Enable support for scorep based instrumentation])],,[with_scorep=no])
 AC_ARG_WITH(system_mpark, [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-system-mpark],
         [Use mpark.variant already installed rather then the bundled one])],,[with_system_mpark=auto])
+AC_ARG_WITH(system_uuid,  [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-system-uuid],
+        [Use libuuid to generate UUIDs])],,[with_system_uuid=auto])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(warnings,     [AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-warnings],
         [Disable compiler warnings])],,[])
@@ -1112,6 +1114,27 @@ AS_IF([test "$SYSTEM_HAS_MPARK" = "yes"], [
   MPARK_INCLUDE="-I$MPARK_VARIANT_INCLUDE_PATH"
   OWN_MPARK=yes
 ])
+
+#############################################################
+# Check for libuuid
+#############################################################
+
+AS_IF([test ".$with_system_uuid" = "no"], [
+  BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no
+], [
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([for system UUID generator])
+  BOUT_ADDPATH_CHECK_HEADER(uuid/uuid.h,
+   BOUT_ADDPATH_CHECK_LIB(uuid, uuid_generate,
+       BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=yes,
+       BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no,
+       [$with_system_uuid]),
+   BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR=no,
+   [$with_system_uuid])
+  AS_IF([test "$with_system_uuid" = "yes"], [
+   AC_MSG_FAILURE([*** System UUID generator not found, but explicitly requested])
+  ])
+])
+
 #############################################################
 # Download + Build PVODE '98
 #############################################################
@@ -1323,6 +1346,7 @@ BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_HAS_PVODE, [PVODE support])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_HAS_SCOREP, [Score-P support])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_HAS_SLEPC, [SLEPc support])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_HAS_SUNDIALS, [SUNDIALS support])
+BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR, [Use libuuid for UUID generation])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE, [Enable backtrace in exceptions])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_USE_COLOR, [Enable color logs option])
 BOUT_DEFINE_SUBST(BOUT_USE_OUTPUT_DEBUG, [Enabled extra debug output])
diff --git a/include/bout/build_config.hxx b/include/bout/build_config.hxx
index 07bd38dd95..cd30574cd3 100644
--- a/include/bout/build_config.hxx
+++ b/include/bout/build_config.hxx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ constexpr auto has_petsc = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_PETSC);
 constexpr auto has_pretty_function = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_PRETTY_FUNCTION);
 constexpr auto has_pvode = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_PVODE);
 constexpr auto has_scorep = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_SCOREP);
+constexpr auto has_uuid_system_generator = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR);
 constexpr auto has_slepc = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_SLEPC);
 constexpr auto has_sundials = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_HAS_SUNDIALS);
 constexpr auto use_backtrace = static_cast<bool>(BOUT_USE_BACKTRACE);
diff --git a/include/bout/sys/uuid.h b/include/bout/sys/uuid.h
index f48e81006f..de8adf9d20 100644
--- a/include/bout/sys/uuid.h
+++ b/include/bout/sys/uuid.h
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 // SOFTWARE.
 
 #pragma once
+#ifndef BOUT_UUID_H
+#define BOUT_UUID_H
+
+#include "bout/build_config.hxx"
 
 #include <cstring>
 #include <string>
@@ -45,7 +49,7 @@
 #define NOMINMAX
 #endif
 
-#ifdef UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
+#ifdef BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
 #include <objbase.h>
 #endif
 
@@ -56,13 +60,13 @@
 
 #elif defined(__linux__) || defined(__unix__)
 
-#ifdef UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
+#ifdef BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
 #include <uuid/uuid.h>
 #endif
 
 #elif defined(__APPLE__)
 
-#ifdef UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
+#ifdef BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
 #include <CoreFoundation/CFUUID.h>
 #endif
 
@@ -652,7 +656,7 @@ namespace uuids
    // uuid generators
    // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-#ifdef UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
+#ifdef BOUT_HAS_UUID_SYSTEM_GENERATOR
    class uuid_system_generator
    {
    public:
@@ -966,3 +970,5 @@ namespace std
       }
    };
 }
+
+#endif // BOUT_UUID_H