diff --git a/GPy/kern/_src/kern.py b/GPy/kern/_src/kern.py
index f632783b..47166156 100644
--- a/GPy/kern/_src/kern.py
+++ b/GPy/kern/_src/kern.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class Kern(Parameterized):
         """
         return self.prod(other, tensor=True)
 
-    def prod(self, other, tensor=False):
+    def prod(self, other, tensor=False, name=None):
         """
         Multiply two kernels (either on the same space, or on the tensor
         product of the input space).
@@ -142,4 +142,4 @@ class Kern(Parameterized):
         """
         assert isinstance(other, Kern), "only kernels can be added to kernels..."
         from prod import Prod
-        return Prod(self, other, tensor)
+        return Prod(self, other, tensor, name)
diff --git a/GPy/kern/_src/prod.py b/GPy/kern/_src/prod.py
index b324eaa7..51490687 100644
--- a/GPy/kern/_src/prod.py
+++ b/GPy/kern/_src/prod.py
@@ -15,14 +15,16 @@ class Prod(Kern):
     :rtype: kernel object
 
     """
-    def __init__(self, k1, k2, tensor=False):
+    def __init__(self, k1, k2, tensor=False,name=None):
         if tensor:
-            super(Prod, self).__init__(k1.input_dim + k2.input_dim, k1.name + '_xx_' + k2.name)
+            name = k1.name + '_xx_' + k2.name if name is None else name
+            super(Prod, self).__init__(k1.input_dim + k2.input_dim, name)
             self.slice1 = slice(0,k1.input_dim)
             self.slice2 = slice(k1.input_dim,k1.input_dim+k2.input_dim)
         else:
             assert k1.input_dim == k2.input_dim, "Error: The input spaces of the kernels to multiply don't have the same dimension."
-            super(Prod, self).__init__(k1.input_dim, k1.name + '_x_' + k2.name)
+            name = k1.name + '_x_' + k2.name if name is None else name
+            super(Prod, self).__init__(k1.input_dim, name)
             self.slice1 = slice(0, self.input_dim)
             self.slice2 = slice(0, self.input_dim)
         self.k1 = k1