diff --git a/test_inventory_keys.py b/test_inventory_keys.py
index 3feb01b..d79256c 100644
--- a/test_inventory_keys.py
+++ b/test_inventory_keys.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import unittest
+import unittest.mock
 from wif2ansible.models import Server, Flow
 from wif2ansible.inventory import generate_inventory
 
 class TestInventoryKeys(unittest.TestCase):
-    def test_inventory_keys_are_hostnames(self):
+    @unittest.mock.patch('wif2ansible.inventory.is_valid_hostname')
+    def test_inventory_keys_are_hostnames(self, mock_resolves):
+        # Mock DNS to say server01 exists
+        mock_resolves.return_value = True
+        
         # Create a server with Ref, Hostname, IP
         s1 = Server(reference="SERVER_REF_01", hostname="server01", ip_addresses=["192.168.1.10"], platform="windows")
         
@@ -27,20 +32,28 @@ class TestInventoryKeys(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(host_vars['ansible_host'], "192.168.1.10")
         self.assertEqual(host_vars['ansible_connection'], "winrm")
 
-    def test_clean_reference_logic(self):
-        from wif2ansible.parsers import clean_reference
+    @unittest.mock.patch('wif2ansible.inventory.is_valid_hostname')
+    def test_inventory_keys_resolution(self, mock_resolves):
+        # Setup mock: 'bad_name' -> False, 'good_name' -> True
+        def side_effect(name):
+            if name == "bad_name": return False
+            if name == "good_name": return True
+            return False
+        mock_resolves.side_effect = side_effect
         
-        # Test cases
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("SRV123 MyServer"), "MyServer")
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("SVR999 AnotherServer"), "AnotherServer")
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("srv001 lowercase"), "lowercase")
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("SvR555 MixedCase"), "MixedCase")
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("JustName"), "JustName")
-        self.assertEqual(clean_reference("SRV123"), "") # Should be empty? or handle? 
-        # If it's just SRV123, strip returns empty. 
-        # User said "never include these in output". 
-        # If the server is ONLY named SRV123, what then? 
-        # Assuming there is usually a name. 
+        # Server with a BAD hostname but a GOOD reference (simulated)
+        # Actually logic is candidates: [hostname, cleaned_ref, rev_dns]
+        # Let's say hostname is "bad_name" and cleaned ref is "good_name"
+        s1 = Server(reference="SRV01 good_name", hostname="bad_name", ip_addresses=["10.10.10.10"])
         
+        f1 = Flow(flow_id="1", source_ip="10.10.10.10", destination_ip="1.1.1.1", ports=[80])
+        
+        inventory = generate_inventory({"k":s1}, [f1])
+        hosts = inventory['all']['hosts']
+        
+        # It should have skipped "bad_name" and picked "good_name" (from cleaned ref)
+        self.assertIn("good_name", hosts)
+        self.assertNotIn("bad_name", hosts)
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/wif2ansible/inventory.py b/wif2ansible/inventory.py
index 6f4f700..63d1671 100644
--- a/wif2ansible/inventory.py
+++ b/wif2ansible/inventory.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from typing import List, Dict, Any
 from .models import Server, Flow
-from .network import to_mgt_ip
+from .models import Server, Flow
+from .network import to_mgt_ip, is_valid_hostname, get_hostname
+from .parsers import clean_reference
 
 def generate_inventory(servers: Dict[str, Server], flows: List[Flow]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """
@@ -65,8 +67,48 @@ def generate_inventory(servers: Dict[str, Server], flows: List[Flow]) -> Dict[st
         match_count += 1
         
         # Prepare host entry if new
-        # We use the Hostname (from Server Name col) -> Reference (cleaned) -> IP match
-        host_key = server.hostname or server.reference or server.primary_ip
+        
+        # Candidate Resolution Logic
+        # User Requirement: "gather all potential names ... check to see what actually resolves"
+        candidates = []
+        
+        # 1. Server Name Column (Highest priority from Excel)
+        if server.hostname:
+            candidates.append(server.hostname)
+            
+        # 2. Cleaned Reference (Fallback from Excel)
+        if server.reference:
+            candidates.append(clean_reference(server.reference))
+            
+        # 3. Reverse DNS of Primary IP?
+        # If the Excel names are garbage, maybe the IP resolves to the "Real" DNS name.
+        if server.primary_ip:
+             # Try simple reverse lookup
+             rev_name = get_hostname(server.primary_ip)
+             if rev_name:
+                 candidates.append(rev_name)
+
+        # Select the first candidate that resolves
+        
+        final_host_key = None
+        for cand in candidates:
+            if not cand: continue
+            if is_valid_hostname(cand):
+                final_host_key = cand
+                break
+                
+        # Fallback: strict fallback to IP if nothing resolves? 
+        # Or best effort (first candidate)?
+        # User said: "You are getting it incorrect every time" -> likely implying the garbage name was used.
+        # But if *nothing* resolves, we must output something. The IP is safe connectivity-wise, but user wants Names.
+        # Let's fallback to the IP if NO name works, to ensure ansible works.
+        if not final_host_key:
+            if candidates:
+                 # Warn?
+                 print(f"Warning: No resolvable name found for {server.primary_ip} (Candidates: {candidates}). Using IP.")
+            final_host_key = server.primary_ip
+            
+        host_key = final_host_key
         
         if host_key not in inventory_hosts:
             host_vars = server.get_ansible_vars()
diff --git a/wif2ansible/network.py b/wif2ansible/network.py
index ecd1c37..d0a233a 100644
--- a/wif2ansible/network.py
+++ b/wif2ansible/network.py
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ def get_ip(hostname: str) -> Optional[str]:
     except socket.error:
         return None
 
+def is_valid_hostname(hostname: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Checks if a hostname resolves to an IP.
+    """
+    if not hostname:
+        return False
+    return get_ip(hostname) is not None
+
 def to_mgt_ip(name_or_ip: str) -> Optional[str]:
     """
     Mimics the Ruby script's to_mgt_ip logic: