diff --git a/ophyd/device.py b/ophyd/device.py
index 86c43345c..9badcf228 100644
--- a/ophyd/device.py
+++ b/ophyd/device.py
@@ -258,6 +258,10 @@ def create_component(self, instance):
             attr_name=self.attr,
         )
 
+        _long_name = kwargs.get("long_name", self.attr)
+        _parent_long_name = getattr(instance, "long_name", instance.name)
+        kwargs["long_name"] = f"{_parent_long_name} {_long_name}"
+
         for kw, val in list(kwargs.items()):
             kwargs[kw] = self.maybe_add_prefix(instance, kw, val)
 
@@ -1785,7 +1789,6 @@ def wrapped(self, *args, **kwargs):
 def _wait_for_connection_context(value, doc):
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def wrapped(dev):
-
         orig = dev.lazy_wait_for_connection
         dev.lazy_wait_for_connection = value
         try:
diff --git a/ophyd/ophydobj.py b/ophyd/ophydobj.py
index 471ffedd6..234b75d20 100644
--- a/ophyd/ophydobj.py
+++ b/ophyd/ophydobj.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ class IFBase(IntFlag, boundary=KEEP):
         ...
 
 except ImportError:
-
     IFBase = IntFlag
 
 
@@ -148,7 +147,16 @@ class OphydObject:
     __any_instantiated = False
     subscriptions: ClassVar[FrozenSet[str]] = frozenset()
 
-    def __init__(self, *, name=None, attr_name="", parent=None, labels=None, kind=None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        *,
+        name=None,
+        attr_name="",
+        parent=None,
+        labels=None,
+        kind=None,
+        long_name=None,
+    ):
         if labels is None:
             labels = set()
         self._ophyd_labels_ = set(labels)
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@ def __init__(self, *, name=None, attr_name="", parent=None, labels=None, kind=No
             raise ValueError("name must be a string.")
         self._name = name
         self._parent = parent
-
+        self._long_name = long_name
         # dictionary of wrapped callbacks
         self._callbacks = {k: {} for k in self.subscriptions}
         # this is to maintain api on clear_sub
@@ -331,6 +339,18 @@ def name(self):
     def name(self, name):
         self._name = name
 
+    @property
+    def long_name(self):
+        """name of the device"""
+        if self._long_name is not None:
+            return self._long_name
+        else:
+            return self._name
+
+    @long_name.setter
+    def long_name(self, name):
+        self._long_name = name
+
     @property
     def attr_name(self):
         return self._attr_name
diff --git a/ophyd/signal.py b/ophyd/signal.py
index f01180dbd..617803928 100644
--- a/ophyd/signal.py
+++ b/ophyd/signal.py
@@ -105,10 +105,15 @@ def __init__(
         metadata=None,
         cl=None,
         attr_name="",
+        long_name=None,
     ):
-
         super().__init__(
-            name=name, parent=parent, kind=kind, labels=labels, attr_name=attr_name
+            name=name,
+            parent=parent,
+            kind=kind,
+            labels=labels,
+            attr_name=attr_name,
+            long_name=long_name,
         )
 
         if cl is None:
@@ -482,6 +487,7 @@ def describe(self):
                     "source": "SIM:{}".format(self.name),
                     "dtype": data_type(val),
                     "shape": data_shape(val),
+                    "long_name": self.long_name,
                 }
             }
         except ValueError as ve:
@@ -1486,6 +1492,7 @@ def describe(self):
             units=self._metadata["units"],
             lower_ctrl_limit=lower_ctrl_limit,
             upper_ctrl_limit=upper_ctrl_limit,
+            long_name=self.long_name,
         )
 
         if self.precision is not None:
@@ -1718,7 +1725,6 @@ def __init__(
         name=None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
-
         self._write_pv = None
         self._use_limits = bool(limits)
         self._put_complete = put_complete
@@ -2267,6 +2273,7 @@ def describe(self):
             "source": "PY:{}.{}".format(self.parent.name, self.full_attr),
             "dtype": data_type(value),
             "shape": data_shape(value),
+            "long_name": self.long_name,
         }
         return {self.name: desc}
 
diff --git a/ophyd/tests/test_device.py b/ophyd/tests/test_device.py
index c3d8b464c..e3ef54bf7 100644
--- a/ophyd/tests/test_device.py
+++ b/ophyd/tests/test_device.py
@@ -768,14 +768,14 @@ def test_dotted_name():
     from ophyd.sim import SynSignal
 
     class Inner(Device):
-        x = Cpt(SynSignal)
+        x = Cpt(SynSignal, long_name="Inner X")
         y = Cpt(SynSignal)
 
     class Outer(Device):
-        a = Cpt(Inner)
+        a = Cpt(Inner, long_name="Outer A")
         b = Cpt(Inner)
 
-    o = Outer(name="test")
+    o = Outer(name="test", long_name="Test")
 
     assert o.dotted_name == ""
     assert o.a.dotted_name == "a"
@@ -797,6 +797,14 @@ class Outer(Device):
     assert o.a.y.attr_name == "y"
     assert o.b.y.attr_name == "y"
 
+    assert o.long_name == "Test"
+    assert o.a.long_name == "Test Outer A"
+    assert o.b.long_name == "Test b"
+    assert o.a.x.long_name == "Test Outer A Inner X"
+    assert o.a.y.long_name == "Test Outer A y"
+    assert o.b.x.long_name == "Test b Inner X"
+    assert o.b.y.long_name == "Test b y"
+
 
 def test_create_device():
     components = dict(