diff --git a/gtsam/inference/Symbol.h b/gtsam/inference/Symbol.h
index 5be195db3..000a026c2 100644
--- a/gtsam/inference/Symbol.h
+++ b/gtsam/inference/Symbol.h
@@ -162,6 +162,12 @@ inline Key W(std::uint64_t j) { return Symbol('w', j); }
 inline Key X(std::uint64_t j) { return Symbol('x', j); }
 inline Key Y(std::uint64_t j) { return Symbol('y', j); }
 inline Key Z(std::uint64_t j) { return Symbol('z', j); }
+
+/** Generates symbol shorthands with alternative names different than the
+ * one-letter predefined ones. */
+inline std::function<Key(std::uint64_t)> alternativeName(const char c) {
+	return [c](std::uint64_t j) { return gtsam::Symbol(c, j); };
+}
 }
 
 /// traits
diff --git a/gtsam/inference/tests/testKey.cpp b/gtsam/inference/tests/testKey.cpp
index a60258581..f34b77c14 100644
--- a/gtsam/inference/tests/testKey.cpp
+++ b/gtsam/inference/tests/testKey.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,25 @@ TEST(Key, KeySymbolConversion) {
   EXPECT(assert_equal(original, actual))
 }
 
+/* ************************************************************************* */
+TEST(Key, SymbolAlternativeNames) {
+  const auto x1 = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::X(1);
+  const auto v1 = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::V(1);
+  const auto a1 = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::A(1);
+
+  const auto Z = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::alternativeName('x');
+  const auto DZ = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::alternativeName('v');
+  const auto DDZ = gtsam::symbol_shorthand::alternativeName('a');
+
+  const auto z1 = Z(1);
+  const auto dz1 = DZ(1);
+  const auto ddz1 = DDZ(1);
+
+  EXPECT(assert_equal(x1, z1));
+  EXPECT(assert_equal(v1, dz1));
+  EXPECT(assert_equal(a1, ddz1));
+}
+
 /* ************************************************************************* */
 template<int KeySize>
 Key KeyTestValue();