diff --git a/IPython/nbformat/v3/nbbase.py b/IPython/nbformat/v3/nbbase.py
index f0a97fd..8387484 100644
--- a/IPython/nbformat/v3/nbbase.py
+++ b/IPython/nbformat/v3/nbbase.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def new_worksheet(name=None, cells=None):
     return ws
 
 
-def new_notebook(metadata=None, worksheets=None):
+def new_notebook(name=None, metadata=None, worksheets=None):
     """Create a notebook by name, id and a list of worksheets."""
     nb = NotebookNode()
     nb.nbformat = nbformat
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ def new_notebook(metadata=None, worksheets=None):
         nb.metadata = new_metadata()
     else:
         nb.metadata = NotebookNode(metadata)
+    if name is not None:
+        nb.metadata.name = unicode(name)
     return nb
 
 
diff --git a/IPython/nbformat/v3/tests/test_nbbase.py b/IPython/nbformat/v3/tests/test_nbbase.py
index 3e992c0..d3e1190 100644
--- a/IPython/nbformat/v3/tests/test_nbbase.py
+++ b/IPython/nbformat/v3/tests/test_nbbase.py
@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ class TestNotebook(TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(nb.worksheets,worksheets)
         self.assertEquals(nb.nbformat,nbformat)
 
+    def test_notebook_name(self):
+        worksheets = [new_worksheet(),new_worksheet()]
+        nb = new_notebook(name='foo',worksheets=worksheets)
+        self.assertEquals(nb.metadata.name,u'foo')
+        self.assertEquals(nb.worksheets,worksheets)
+        self.assertEquals(nb.nbformat,nbformat)
+
 class TestMetadata(TestCase):
 
     def test_empty_metadata(self):