diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 2c9c77e23a..f237c6ecf5 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ A new header is inserted each time a *tag* is created.
 
 ## Next release
 
+- MaterialInstances now have optional names.
+
 ## v1.6.0
 
 - gltfio: fixed incorrect cone angles with lights.
diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Material.cpp b/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Material.cpp
index 6fda58f1b6..beb9b51a2f 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Material.cpp
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Material.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,16 @@ Java_com_google_android_filament_Material_nCreateInstance(JNIEnv*, jclass,
     return (jlong) material->createInstance();
 }
 
+extern "C" JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL
+Java_com_google_android_filament_Material_nCreateInstanceWithName(JNIEnv* env, jclass,
+        jlong nativeMaterial, jstring name_) {
+    Material* material = (Material*) nativeMaterial;
+    const char *name = env->GetStringUTFChars(name_, 0);
+    jlong instance = (jlong) material->createInstance(name);
+    env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(name_, name);
+    return instance;
+}
+
 extern "C"
 JNIEXPORT jstring JNICALL
 Java_com_google_android_filament_Material_nGetName(JNIEnv* env, jclass, jlong nativeMaterial) {
diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Material.java b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Material.java
index b82e4c8309..eb0343ae27 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Material.java
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Material.java
@@ -326,6 +326,21 @@ public class Material {
         return new MaterialInstance(this, nativeInstance);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates a new instance of this material with a specified name. Material instances should be
+     * freed using {@link Engine#destroyMaterialInstance(MaterialInstance)}.
+     *
+     * @param name arbitrary label to associate with the given material instance
+     *
+     * @return the new instance
+     */
+    @NonNull
+    public MaterialInstance createInstance(@NonNull String name) {
+        long nativeInstance = nCreateInstanceWithName(getNativeObject(), name);
+        if (nativeInstance == 0) throw new IllegalStateException("Couldn't create MaterialInstance");
+        return new MaterialInstance(this, nativeInstance, name);
+    }
+
     /** Returns the material's default instance. */
     @NonNull
     public MaterialInstance getDefaultInstance() {
@@ -879,6 +894,7 @@ public class Material {
 
     private static native long nBuilderBuild(long nativeEngine, @NonNull Buffer buffer, int size);
     private static native long nCreateInstance(long nativeMaterial);
+    private static native long nCreateInstanceWithName(long nativeMaterial, @NonNull String name);
     private static native long nGetDefaultInstance(long nativeMaterial);
 
     private static native String nGetName(long nativeMaterial);
diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
index d82b4714ba..c93f5fa18f 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public class MaterialInstance {
     private Material mMaterial;
     private long mNativeObject;
     private long mNativeMaterial;
+    private String mName;
 
     public enum BooleanElement {
         BOOL,
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ public class MaterialInstance {
         mNativeObject = nativeMaterialInstance;
     }
 
+    MaterialInstance(@NonNull Material material, long nativeMaterialInstance, String name) {
+        mMaterial = material;
+        mNativeObject = nativeMaterialInstance;
+        mName = name;
+    }
+
     MaterialInstance(long nativeMaterial, long nativeMaterialInstance) {
         mNativeMaterial = nativeMaterial;
         mNativeObject = nativeMaterialInstance;
@@ -67,6 +74,11 @@ public class MaterialInstance {
         return mMaterial;
     }
 
+    /** @return the name associated with this instance if one exists, otherwise null */
+    public String getName() {
+        return mName;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Sets the value of a bool parameter.
      *
diff --git a/filament/include/filament/Material.h b/filament/include/filament/Material.h
index 6be3a8df13..6fce86359a 100644
--- a/filament/include/filament/Material.h
+++ b/filament/include/filament/Material.h
@@ -123,9 +123,12 @@ public:
      * Creates a new instance of this material. Material instances should be freed using
      * Engine::destroy(const MaterialInstance*).
      *
+     * @param name Optional name to associate with the given material instance. If this is null,
+     * then there is no associated name (note that the material's name does not get inherited).
+     *
      * @return A pointer to the new instance.
      */
-    MaterialInstance* createInstance() const noexcept;
+    MaterialInstance* createInstance(const char* name = nullptr) const noexcept;
 
     //! Returns the name of this material as a null-terminated string.
     const char* getName() const noexcept;
diff --git a/filament/include/filament/MaterialInstance.h b/filament/include/filament/MaterialInstance.h
index bbc867b22d..8a617316a7 100644
--- a/filament/include/filament/MaterialInstance.h
+++ b/filament/include/filament/MaterialInstance.h
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ public:
      */
     Material const* getMaterial() const noexcept;
 
+    /**
+     * @return the name associated with this instance if one exists, otherwise null
+     */
+    const char* getName() const noexcept;
+
     /**
      * Set a uniform by name
      *
diff --git a/filament/src/Engine.cpp b/filament/src/Engine.cpp
index 61377664af..99ef2f331c 100644
--- a/filament/src/Engine.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/Engine.cpp
@@ -551,8 +551,9 @@ FRenderer* FEngine::createRenderer() noexcept {
     return p;
 }
 
-FMaterialInstance* FEngine::createMaterialInstance(const FMaterial* material) noexcept {
-    FMaterialInstance* p = mHeapAllocator.make<FMaterialInstance>(*this, material);
+FMaterialInstance* FEngine::createMaterialInstance(const FMaterial* material,
+        const char* name) noexcept {
+    FMaterialInstance* p = mHeapAllocator.make<FMaterialInstance>(*this, material, name);
     if (p) {
         auto pos = mMaterialInstances.emplace(material, "MaterialInstance");
         pos.first->second.insert(p);
diff --git a/filament/src/Material.cpp b/filament/src/Material.cpp
index 3969d51b1c..183d306e61 100644
--- a/filament/src/Material.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/Material.cpp
@@ -286,8 +286,8 @@ void FMaterial::terminate(FEngine& engine) {
     mDefaultInstance.terminate(engine);
 }
 
-FMaterialInstance* FMaterial::createInstance() const noexcept {
-    return mEngine.createMaterialInstance(this);
+FMaterialInstance* FMaterial::createInstance(const char* name) const noexcept {
+    return mEngine.createMaterialInstance(this, name);
 }
 
 bool FMaterial::hasParameter(const char* name) const noexcept {
@@ -529,8 +529,8 @@ void FMaterial::destroyPrograms(FEngine& engine) {
 
 using namespace details;
 
-MaterialInstance* Material::createInstance() const noexcept {
-    return upcast(this)->createInstance();
+MaterialInstance* Material::createInstance(const char* name) const noexcept {
+    return upcast(this)->createInstance(name);
 }
 
 const char* Material::getName() const noexcept {
diff --git a/filament/src/MaterialInstance.cpp b/filament/src/MaterialInstance.cpp
index 3737493e36..977c6d4609 100644
--- a/filament/src/MaterialInstance.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/MaterialInstance.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ namespace details {
 
 FMaterialInstance::FMaterialInstance() noexcept = default;
 
-FMaterialInstance::FMaterialInstance(FEngine& engine, FMaterial const* material) {
+FMaterialInstance::FMaterialInstance(FEngine& engine, FMaterial const* material, const char* name) :
+        mName(name) {
     FEngine::DriverApi& driver = engine.getDriverApi();
 
     if (!material->getUniformInterfaceBlock().isEmpty()) {
@@ -223,7 +224,11 @@ template UTILS_NOINLINE void FMaterialInstance::setParameter<mat4f>   (const cha
 using namespace details;
 
 Material const* MaterialInstance::getMaterial() const noexcept {
-    return upcast(this)->mMaterial;
+    return upcast(this)->getMaterial();
+}
+
+const char* MaterialInstance::getName() const noexcept {
+    return upcast(this)->getName();
 }
 
 template <typename T, typename>
diff --git a/filament/src/Skybox.cpp b/filament/src/Skybox.cpp
index 3da96519c6..df9215ae01 100644
--- a/filament/src/Skybox.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/Skybox.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ FSkybox::FSkybox(FEngine& engine, const Builder& builder) noexcept
           mIntensity(builder->mIntensity) {
 
     FMaterial const* material = engine.getSkyboxMaterial();
-    mSkyboxMaterialInstance = material->createInstance();
+    mSkyboxMaterialInstance = material->createInstance("Skybox");
 
     TextureSampler sampler(TextureSampler::MagFilter::LINEAR, TextureSampler::WrapMode::REPEAT);
     auto pInstance = static_cast<MaterialInstance*>(mSkyboxMaterialInstance);
diff --git a/filament/src/details/Engine.h b/filament/src/details/Engine.h
index 2e1cc1da0e..81fce37ef5 100644
--- a/filament/src/details/Engine.h
+++ b/filament/src/details/Engine.h
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public:
     void createLight(const LightManager::Builder& builder, utils::Entity entity);
 
     FRenderer* createRenderer() noexcept;
-    FMaterialInstance* createMaterialInstance(const FMaterial* material) noexcept;
+    FMaterialInstance* createMaterialInstance(const FMaterial* material, const char* name) noexcept;
 
     FScene* createScene() noexcept;
     FView* createView() noexcept;
diff --git a/filament/src/details/Material.h b/filament/src/details/Material.h
index 1d9d53ea22..63789224c2 100644
--- a/filament/src/details/Material.h
+++ b/filament/src/details/Material.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     // Create an instance of this material
-    FMaterialInstance* createInstance() const noexcept;
+    FMaterialInstance* createInstance(const char* name) const noexcept;
 
     bool hasParameter(const char* name) const noexcept;
 
diff --git a/filament/src/details/MaterialInstance.h b/filament/src/details/MaterialInstance.h
index 0fb0d62c1f..852cf31656 100644
--- a/filament/src/details/MaterialInstance.h
+++ b/filament/src/details/MaterialInstance.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class FMaterial;
 
 class FMaterialInstance : public MaterialInstance {
 public:
-    FMaterialInstance(FEngine& engine, FMaterial const* material);
+    FMaterialInstance(FEngine& engine, FMaterial const* material, const char* name);
     FMaterialInstance(const FMaterialInstance& rhs) = delete;
     FMaterialInstance& operator=(const FMaterialInstance& rhs) = delete;
 
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ public:
 
     void setDepthCulling(bool enable) noexcept;
 
+    const char* getName() const noexcept { return mName.c_str(); }
+
 private:
     friend class FMaterial;
     friend class MaterialInstance;
@@ -162,6 +164,8 @@ private:
             (uint32_t)std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max(),
             (uint32_t)std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max()
     };
+
+    utils::CString mName;
 };
 
 FILAMENT_UPCAST(MaterialInstance)
diff --git a/web/filament-js/filament.d.ts b/web/filament-js/filament.d.ts
index 76bcc4ce15..459dbf590f 100644
--- a/web/filament-js/filament.d.ts
+++ b/web/filament-js/filament.d.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export class TextureSampler {
 }
 
 export class MaterialInstance {
+    public getName(): string;
     public setBoolParameter(name: string, value: boolean): void;
     public setFloatParameter(name: string, value: number): void;
     public setFloat2Parameter(name: string, value: float2): void;
@@ -283,6 +284,7 @@ export class Renderer {
 
 export class Material {
     public createInstance(): MaterialInstance;
+    public createNamedInstance(name: string): MaterialInstance;
     public getDefaultInstance(): MaterialInstance;
     public getName(): string;
 }
diff --git a/web/filament-js/jsbindings.cpp b/web/filament-js/jsbindings.cpp
index d7f4deb044..79ed13b7da 100644
--- a/web/filament-js/jsbindings.cpp
+++ b/web/filament-js/jsbindings.cpp
@@ -988,11 +988,18 @@ class_<Material>("Material")
             select_overload<MaterialInstance*(void)>(&Material::getDefaultInstance),
             allow_raw_pointers())
     .function("createInstance", &Material::createInstance, allow_raw_pointers())
+    .function("createNamedInstance", EMBIND_LAMBDA(MaterialInstance*,
+            (Material* self, std::string name), {
+        return self->createInstance(name.c_str()); }), allow_raw_pointers())
     .function("getName", EMBIND_LAMBDA(std::string, (Material* self), {
         return std::string(self->getName());
     }), allow_raw_pointers());
 
 class_<MaterialInstance>("MaterialInstance")
+    .function("getName", EMBIND_LAMBDA(std::string, (MaterialInstance* self), {
+        const char* name = self->getName();
+        return std::string(name ? name : "");
+    }), allow_raw_pointers())
     .function("setBoolParameter", EMBIND_LAMBDA(void,
             (MaterialInstance* self, std::string name, bool value), {
         self->setParameter(name.c_str(), value); }), allow_raw_pointers())