diff --git a/modules/angular1_router/test/integration/lifecycle_hook_spec.js b/modules/angular1_router/test/integration/lifecycle_hook_spec.js
index 61ee0d531e..4ac9f6414e 100644
--- a/modules/angular1_router/test/integration/lifecycle_hook_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular1_router/test/integration/lifecycle_hook_spec.js
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ describe('Navigation lifecycle', function () {
 
     $router.config([
       { path: '/on-reuse/:number/...', component: 'reuseCmp' },
-      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two'}
+      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two'}
     ]);
     compile('outer { <div ng-outlet></div> }');
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ describe('Navigation lifecycle', function () {
 
     $router.config([
       { path: '/never-reuse/:number/...', component: 'reuseCmp' },
-      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two'}
+      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two'}
     ]);
     compile('outer { <div ng-outlet></div> }');
 
diff --git a/modules/angular1_router/test/ng_link_spec.js b/modules/angular1_router/test/ng_link_spec.js
index c1633c305f..95ff2efcb3 100644
--- a/modules/angular1_router/test/ng_link_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular1_router/test/ng_link_spec.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
   it('should allow linking from the parent to the child', function () {
     $router.config([
       { path: '/a', component: 'oneCmp' },
-      { path: '/b', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two' }
+      { path: '/b', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two' }
     ]);
     compile('<a ng-link="[\'/Two\']">link</a> | outer { <div ng-outlet></div> }');
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
   it('should allow linking from the child and the parent', function () {
     $router.config([
       { path: '/a', component: 'oneCmp' },
-      { path: '/b', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two' }
+      { path: '/b', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two' }
     ]);
     compile('outer { <div ng-outlet></div> }');
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
 
     $router.config([
       { path: '/a', component: 'twoLinkCmp' },
-      { path: '/b/:param', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two' }
+      { path: '/b/:param', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two' }
     ]);
     compile('<div ng-outlet></div>');
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
     registerComponent('twoLinkCmp', '<div><a ng-link="[\'/Two\', {param: twoLinkCmp.number}]">{{twoLinkCmp.number}}</a></div>', function () {this.number = 'param'});
     $router.config([
       { path: '/a', component: 'twoLinkCmp' },
-      { path: '/b/:param', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two' }
+      { path: '/b/:param', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two' }
     ]);
     compile('<div ng-outlet></div>');
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
   it('should navigate on left-mouse click when a link url matches a route', function () {
     $router.config([
       { path: '/', component: 'oneCmp' },
-      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two'}
+      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two'}
     ]);
 
     compile('<a ng-link="[\'/Two\']">link</a> | <div ng-outlet></div>');
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
   it('should not navigate on non-left mouse click when a link url matches a route', inject(function ($router) {
     $router.config([
       { path: '/', component: 'oneCmp' },
-      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two'}
+      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two'}
     ]);
 
     compile('<a ng-link="[\'/Two\']">link</a> | <div ng-outlet></div>');
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ describe('ngLink', function () {
   it('should not navigate a link without an href', function () {
     $router.config([
       { path: '/', component: 'oneCmp' },
-      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', as: 'Two'}
+      { path: '/two', component: 'twoCmp', name: 'Two'}
     ]);
     expect(function () {
       compile('<a>link</a>');
diff --git a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_activate/can_activate_example.ts b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_activate/can_activate_example.ts
index ea6c88b521..e13ba4b006 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_activate/can_activate_example.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_activate/can_activate_example.ts
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ class HomeCmp {
   directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  {path: '/user-settings/:id', component: ControlPanelCmp, as: 'ControlPanelCmp'},
-  {path: '/', component: HomeCmp, as: 'HomeCmp'}
+  {path: '/user-settings/:id', component: ControlPanelCmp, name: 'ControlPanelCmp'},
+  {path: '/', component: HomeCmp, name: 'HomeCmp'}
 ])
 class AppCmp {
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_deactivate/can_deactivate_example.ts b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_deactivate/can_deactivate_example.ts
index 0cea45597e..bf42714492 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_deactivate/can_deactivate_example.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/can_deactivate/can_deactivate_example.ts
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ class NoteIndexCmp {
   directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  {path: '/note/:id', component: NoteCmp, as: 'NoteCmp'},
-  {path: '/', component: NoteIndexCmp, as: 'NoteIndexCmp'}
+  {path: '/note/:id', component: NoteCmp, name: 'NoteCmp'},
+  {path: '/', component: NoteIndexCmp, name: 'NoteIndexCmp'}
 ])
 class AppCmp {
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_activate/on_activate_example.ts b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_activate/on_activate_example.ts
index f1d68519a4..557c9e8255 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_activate/on_activate_example.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_activate/on_activate_example.ts
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ class MyCmp implements OnActivate {
   directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, as: 'HomeCmp'},
-  {path: '/:param', component: MyCmp, as: 'ParamCmp'}
+  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, name: 'HomeCmp'},
+  {path: '/:param', component: MyCmp, name: 'ParamCmp'}
 ])
 class AppCmp {
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_deactivate/on_deactivate_example.ts b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_deactivate/on_deactivate_example.ts
index 95fdc177c4..34152ebf5f 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_deactivate/on_deactivate_example.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/on_deactivate/on_deactivate_example.ts
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ class MyCmp implements OnDeactivate {
   directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, NgFor]
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, as: 'HomeCmp'},
-  {path: '/:param', component: MyCmp, as: 'ParamCmp'}
+  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, name: 'HomeCmp'},
+  {path: '/:param', component: MyCmp, name: 'ParamCmp'}
 ])
 class AppCmp {
   constructor(public logService: LogService) {}
diff --git a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/reuse/reuse_example.ts b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/reuse/reuse_example.ts
index 00da6ac7f0..8b0bc05452 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/reuse/reuse_example.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/examples/router/ts/reuse/reuse_example.ts
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ class MyCmp implements CanReuse,
   directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, as: 'HomeCmp'},
-  {path: '/:name', component: MyCmp, as: 'HomeCmp'}
+  {path: '/', component: MyCmp, name: 'HomeCmp'},
+  {path: '/:name', component: MyCmp, name: 'HomeCmp'}
 ])
 class AppCmp {
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_impl.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_impl.ts
index 2bdd7acee2..cd6be47d8b 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_impl.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_impl.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {CONST, Type} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/lang';
+import {CONST, Type, isPresent} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/lang';
 import {RouteDefinition} from './route_definition';
 export {RouteDefinition} from './route_definition';
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export class RouteConfig {
  * It has the following properties:
  * - `path` is a string that uses the route matcher DSL.
  * - `component` a component type.
- * - `as` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
+ * - `name` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
  * - `data` is an optional property of any type representing arbitrary route metadata for the given
  * route. It is injectable via {@link RouteData}.
  *
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export class RouteConfig {
  * import {RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @RouteConfig([
- *   {path: '/home', component: HomeCmp, as: 'HomeCmp' }
+ *   {path: '/home', component: HomeCmp, name: 'HomeCmp' }
  * ])
  * class MyApp {}
  * ```
@@ -37,15 +37,15 @@ export class Route implements RouteDefinition {
   data: {[key: string]: any};
   path: string;
   component: Type;
-  as: string;
+  name: string;
   // added next two properties to work around https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/4107
   loader: Function;
   redirectTo: string;
-  constructor({path, component, as,
-               data}: {path: string, component: Type, as?: string, data?: {[key: string]: any}}) {
+  constructor({path, component, name,
+               data}: {path: string, component: Type, name?: string, data?: {[key: string]: any}}) {
     this.path = path;
     this.component = component;
-    this.as = as;
+    this.name = name;
     this.loader = null;
     this.redirectTo = null;
     this.data = data;
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export class Route implements RouteDefinition {
  * It takes an object with the following properties:
  * - `path` is a string that uses the route matcher DSL.
  * - `component` a component type.
- * - `as` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
+ * - `name` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
  * - `data` is an optional property of any type representing arbitrary route metadata for the given
  * route. It is injectable via {@link RouteData}.
  *
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ export class AuxRoute implements RouteDefinition {
   data: {[key: string]: any} = null;
   path: string;
   component: Type;
-  as: string;
+  name: string;
   // added next two properties to work around https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/4107
   loader: Function = null;
   redirectTo: string = null;
-  constructor({path, component, as}: {path: string, component: Type, as?: string}) {
+  constructor({path, component, name}: {path: string, component: Type, name?: string}) {
     this.path = path;
     this.component = component;
-    this.as = as;
+    this.name = name;
   }
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export class AuxRoute implements RouteDefinition {
  * It has the following properties:
  * - `path` is a string that uses the route matcher DSL.
  * - `loader` is a function that returns a promise that resolves to a component.
- * - `as` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
+ * - `name` is an optional `CamelCase` string representing the name of the route.
  * - `data` is an optional property of any type representing arbitrary route metadata for the given
  * route. It is injectable via {@link RouteData}.
  *
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export class AuxRoute implements RouteDefinition {
  * import {RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @RouteConfig([
- *   {path: '/home', loader: () => Promise.resolve(MyLoadedCmp), as: 'MyLoadedCmp'}
+ *   {path: '/home', loader: () => Promise.resolve(MyLoadedCmp), name: 'MyLoadedCmp'}
  * ])
  * class MyApp {}
  * ```
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ export class AsyncRoute implements RouteDefinition {
   data: {[key: string]: any};
   path: string;
   loader: Function;
-  as: string;
-  constructor({path, loader, as,
-               data}: {path: string, loader: Function, as?: string, data?: {[key: string]: any}}) {
+  name: string;
+  constructor({path, loader, name, data}:
+                  {path: string, loader: Function, name?: string, data?: {[key: string]: any}}) {
     this.path = path;
     this.loader = loader;
-    this.as = as;
+    this.name = name;
     this.data = data;
   }
 }
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ export class AsyncRoute implements RouteDefinition {
 export class Redirect implements RouteDefinition {
   path: string;
   redirectTo: string;
-  as: string = null;
+  name: string = null;
   // added next property to work around https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/4107
   loader: Function = null;
   data: any = null;
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_nomalizer.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_nomalizer.ts
index 15f511f2c2..013262806d 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_nomalizer.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_config_nomalizer.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,14 @@ export function normalizeRouteConfig(config: RouteDefinition): RouteDefinition {
     throw new BaseException(
         `Route config should contain exactly one "component", "loader", or "redirectTo" property.`);
   }
+  if (config.as && config.name) {
+    throw new BaseException(`Route config should contain exactly one "as" or "name" property.`);
+  }
+  if (config.as) {
+    config.name = config.as;
+  }
   if (config.loader) {
-    return new AsyncRoute({path: config.path, loader: config.loader, as: config.as});
+    return new AsyncRoute({path: config.path, loader: config.loader, name: config.name});
   }
   if (config.component) {
     if (typeof config.component == 'object') {
@@ -27,11 +33,11 @@ export function normalizeRouteConfig(config: RouteDefinition): RouteDefinition {
         return new Route({
           path: config.path,
           component:<Type>componentDefinitionObject.constructor,
-          as: config.as
+          name: config.name
         });
       } else if (componentDefinitionObject.type == 'loader') {
         return new AsyncRoute(
-            {path: config.path, loader: componentDefinitionObject.loader, as: config.as});
+            {path: config.path, loader: componentDefinitionObject.loader, name: config.name});
       } else {
         throw new BaseException(
             `Invalid component type "${componentDefinitionObject.type}". Valid types are "constructor" and "loader".`);
@@ -40,7 +46,7 @@ export function normalizeRouteConfig(config: RouteDefinition): RouteDefinition {
     return new Route(<{
       path: string;
       component: Type;
-      as?: string
+      name?: string;
     }>config);
   }
 
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.dart b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.dart
index 401e563f8e..e5d0a22539 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.dart
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ library angular2.src.router.route_definition;
 
 abstract class RouteDefinition {
   final String path;
-  final String as;
-  const RouteDefinition({this.path, this.as});
+  final String name;
+  const RouteDefinition({this.path, this.name});
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.ts
index 4c923d44a1..d21e2c4e56 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_definition.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {CONST, Type} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/lang';
  * Supported keys:
  * - `path` (required)
  * - `component`, `loader`,  `redirectTo` (requires exactly one of these)
- * - `as` (optional)
+ * - `name` or `as` (optional) (requires exactly one of these)
  * - `data` (optional)
  *
  * See also {@link Route}, {@link AsyncRoute}, {@link AuxRoute}, and {@link Redirect}.
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export interface RouteDefinition {
   loader?: Function;
   redirectTo?: string;
   as?: string;
+  name?: string;
   data?: any;
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_recognizer.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_recognizer.ts
index 5ec7046593..42904412cf 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/route_recognizer.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/route_recognizer.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ export class RouteRecognizer {
   config(config: RouteDefinition): boolean {
     var handler;
 
-    if (isPresent(config.as) && config.as[0].toUpperCase() != config.as[0]) {
-      var suggestedAlias = config.as[0].toUpperCase() + config.as.substring(1);
+    if (isPresent(config.name) && config.name[0].toUpperCase() != config.name[0]) {
+      var suggestedName = config.name[0].toUpperCase() + config.name.substring(1);
       throw new BaseException(
-          `Route '${config.path}' with alias '${config.as}' does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route aliases should be CamelCase like '${suggestedAlias}'.`);
+          `Route "${config.path}" with name "${config.name}" does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route names should be CamelCase like "${suggestedName}".`);
     }
 
     if (config instanceof AuxRoute) {
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ export class RouteRecognizer {
     });
 
     this.matchers.push(recognizer);
-    if (isPresent(config.as)) {
-      this.names.set(config.as, recognizer);
+    if (isPresent(config.name)) {
+      this.names.set(config.name, recognizer);
     }
     return recognizer.terminal;
   }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/integration/router_link_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/integration/router_link_spec.ts
index a3e222b8a9..22db57c36c 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/integration/router_link_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/integration/router_link_spec.ts
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          location.setBaseHref('/my/base');
          compile('<a href="hello" [router-link]="[\'./User\']"></a>')
-             .then((_) =>
-                       router.config([new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, as: 'User'})]))
+             .then((_) => router.config(
+                       [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, name: 'User'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a/b'))
              .then((_) => {
                rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should generate link hrefs without params', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile('<a href="hello" [router-link]="[\'./User\']"></a>')
-             .then((_) =>
-                       router.config([new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, as: 'User'})]))
+             .then((_) => router.config(
+                       [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, name: 'User'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a/b'))
              .then((_) => {
                rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate link hrefs with params', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile('<a href="hello" [router-link]="[\'./User\', {name: name}]">{{name}}</a>')
              .then((_) => router.config(
-                       [new Route({path: '/user/:name', component: UserCmp, as: 'User'})]))
+                       [new Route({path: '/user/:name', component: UserCmp, name: 'User'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a/b'))
              .then((_) => {
                rootTC.debugElement.componentInstance.name = 'brian';
@@ -120,8 +120,9 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate link hrefs from a child to its sibling',
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile()
-             .then((_) => router.config(
-                       [new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, as: 'Page'})]))
+             .then(
+                 (_) => router.config(
+                     [new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, name: 'Page'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/page/1'))
              .then((_) => {
                rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -138,7 +139,8 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile()
              .then((_) => router.config([
-               new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: NoPrefixSiblingPageCmp, as: 'Page'})
+               new Route(
+                   {path: '/page/:number', component: NoPrefixSiblingPageCmp, name: 'Page'})
              ]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/page/1'))
              .then((_) => {
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile()
              .then((_) => router.config([
-               new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: NoPrefixBookCmp, as: 'Book'})
+               new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: NoPrefixBookCmp, name: 'Book'})
              ]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/book/1984/page/1'))
              .then((_) => {
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile()
              .then((_) => router.config([
-               new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: AmbiguousBookCmp, as: 'Book'})
+               new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: AmbiguousBookCmp, name: 'Book'})
              ]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/book/1984/page/1'))
              .then((_) => {
@@ -193,7 +195,7 @@ export function main() {
                new AsyncRoute({
                  path: '/child-with-grandchild/...',
                  loader: parentCmpLoader,
-                 as: 'ChildWithGrandchild'
+                 name: 'ChildWithGrandchild'
                })
              ]))
              .then((_) => router.navigate(['/ChildWithGrandchild']))
@@ -212,7 +214,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          compile()
              .then((_) => router.config(
-                       [new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: BookCmp, as: 'Book'})]))
+                       [new Route({path: '/book/:title/...', component: BookCmp, name: 'Book'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/book/1984/page/1'))
              .then((_) => {
                rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -236,8 +238,8 @@ export function main() {
     describe('router-link-active CSS class', () => {
       it('should be added to the associated element', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
            router.config([
-                   new Route({path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, as: 'Child'}),
-                   new Route({path: '/better-child', component: Hello2Cmp, as: 'BetterChild'})
+                   new Route({path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, name: 'Child'}),
+                   new Route({path: '/better-child', component: Hello2Cmp, name: 'BetterChild'})
                  ])
                .then((_) => compile(`<a [router-link]="['./Child']" class="child-link">Child</a>
                                 <a [router-link]="['./BetterChild']" class="better-child-link">Better Child</a>
@@ -267,11 +269,11 @@ export function main() {
 
       it('should be added to links in child routes', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
            router.config([
-                   new Route({path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, as: 'Child'}),
+                   new Route({path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, name: 'Child'}),
                    new Route({
                      path: '/child-with-grandchild/...',
                      component: ParentCmp,
-                     as: 'ChildWithGrandchild'
+                     name: 'ChildWithGrandchild'
                    })
                  ])
                .then((_) => compile(`<a [router-link]="['./Child']" class="child-link">Child</a>
@@ -319,7 +321,7 @@ export function main() {
       it('should navigate to link hrefs without params', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
            compile('<a href="hello" [router-link]="[\'./User\']"></a>')
                .then((_) => router.config(
-                         [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, as: 'User'})]))
+                         [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, name: 'User'})]))
                .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a/b'))
                .then((_) => {
                  rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -340,7 +342,7 @@ export function main() {
            location.setBaseHref('/base');
            compile('<a href="hello" [router-link]="[\'./User\']"></a>')
                .then((_) => router.config(
-                         [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, as: 'User'})]))
+                         [new Route({path: '/user', component: UserCmp, name: 'User'})]))
                .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a/b'))
                .then((_) => {
                  rootTC.detectChanges();
@@ -427,8 +429,8 @@ function parentCmpLoader() {
   directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES
 })
 @RouteConfig([
-  new Route({path: '/grandchild', component: HelloCmp, as: 'Grandchild'}),
-  new Route({path: '/better-grandchild', component: Hello2Cmp, as: 'BetterGrandchild'})
+  new Route({path: '/grandchild', component: HelloCmp, name: 'Grandchild'}),
+  new Route({path: '/better-grandchild', component: Hello2Cmp, name: 'BetterGrandchild'})
 ])
 class ParentCmp {
   constructor(public router: Router) {}
@@ -440,7 +442,7 @@ class ParentCmp {
     <router-outlet></router-outlet>`,
   directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES
 })
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, as: 'Page'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, name: 'Page'})])
 class BookCmp {
   title: string;
   constructor(params: RouteParams) { this.title = params.get('title'); }
@@ -452,7 +454,7 @@ class BookCmp {
     <router-outlet></router-outlet>`,
   directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES
 })
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, as: 'Page'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, name: 'Page'})])
 class NoPrefixBookCmp {
   title: string;
   constructor(params: RouteParams) { this.title = params.get('title'); }
@@ -464,7 +466,7 @@ class NoPrefixBookCmp {
     <router-outlet></router-outlet>`,
   directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES
 })
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, as: 'Book'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/page/:number', component: SiblingPageCmp, name: 'Book'})])
 class AmbiguousBookCmp {
   title: string;
   constructor(params: RouteParams) { this.title = params.get('title'); }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
index 19c3c54700..bf64ad075a 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,19 @@ export function main() {
                    })}));
 
     it('should throw if a config has an invalid alias name',
+       inject(
+           [AsyncTestCompleter],
+           (async) => {
+               bootstrap(BadAliasNameCmp, testBindings)
+                   .catch((e) => {
+                     expect(e.originalException)
+                         .toContainError(
+                             `Route "/child" with name "child" does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route names should be CamelCase like "Child".`);
+                     async.done();
+                     return null;
+                   })}));
+
+    it('should throw if a config has an invalid alias name with "as"',
        inject(
            [AsyncTestCompleter],
            (async) => {
@@ -160,10 +173,22 @@ export function main() {
                    .catch((e) => {
                      expect(e.originalException)
                          .toContainError(
-                             `Route '/child' with alias 'child' does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route aliases should be CamelCase like 'Child'.`);
+                             `Route "/child" with name "child" does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route names should be CamelCase like "Child".`);
                      async.done();
                      return null;
                    })}));
+
+    it('should throw if a config has multiple alias properties "as" and "name"',
+       inject([AsyncTestCompleter],
+              (async) => {
+                  bootstrap(MultipleAliasCmp, testBindings)
+                      .catch((e) => {
+                        expect(e.originalException)
+                            .toContainError(
+                                `Route config should contain exactly one "as" or "name" property.`);
+                        async.done();
+                        return null;
+                      })}));
   });
 }
 
@@ -230,12 +255,24 @@ class HierarchyAppCmp {
 class WrongConfigCmp {
 }
 
+@Component({selector: 'app-cmp'})
+@View({template: `root { <router-outlet></router-outlet> }`, directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES})
+@RouteConfig([{path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, name: 'child'}])
+class BadAliasNameCmp {
+}
+
 @Component({selector: 'app-cmp'})
 @View({template: `root { <router-outlet></router-outlet> }`, directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES})
 @RouteConfig([{path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, as: 'child'}])
 class BadAliasCmp {
 }
 
+@Component({selector: 'app-cmp'})
+@View({template: `root { <router-outlet></router-outlet> }`, directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES})
+@RouteConfig([{path: '/child', component: HelloCmp, as: 'Child', name: 'Child'}])
+class MultipleAliasCmp {
+}
+
 @Component({selector: 'app-cmp'})
 @View({template: `root { <router-outlet></router-outlet> }`, directives: ROUTER_DIRECTIVES})
 @RouteConfig([
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_recognizer_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_recognizer_spec.ts
index 90bd44e170..6f4369d9dd 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_recognizer_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_recognizer_spec.ts
@@ -108,20 +108,20 @@ export function main() {
 
 
     it('should generate URLs with params', () => {
-      recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'User'}));
+      recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'User'}));
       var instruction = recognizer.generate('User', {'name': 'misko'});
       expect(instruction.urlPath).toEqual('app/user/misko');
     });
 
 
     it('should generate URLs with numeric params', () => {
-      recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/app/page/:number', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'Page'}));
+      recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/app/page/:number', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'Page'}));
       expect(recognizer.generate('Page', {'number': 42}).urlPath).toEqual('app/page/42');
     });
 
 
     it('should throw in the absence of required params URLs', () => {
-      recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'User'}));
+      recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'User'}));
       expect(() => recognizer.generate('User', {}))
           .toThrowError('Route generator for \'name\' was not included in parameters passed.');
     });
@@ -129,15 +129,15 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should throw if the route alias is not CamelCase', () => {
       expect(() => recognizer.config(
-                 new Route({path: 'app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'user'})))
+                 new Route({path: 'app/user/:name', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'user'})))
           .toThrowError(
-              `Route 'app/user/:name' with alias 'user' does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route aliases should be CamelCase like 'User'.`);
+              `Route "app/user/:name" with name "user" does not begin with an uppercase letter. Route names should be CamelCase like "User".`);
     });
 
 
     describe('params', () => {
       it('should recognize parameters within the URL path', () => {
-        recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'profile/:name', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'User'}));
+        recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'profile/:name', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'User'}));
         var solution = recognize(recognizer, '/profile/matsko?comments=all');
         expect(solution.params).toEqual({'name': 'matsko', 'comments': 'all'});
       });
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ export function main() {
       it('should generate and populate the given static-based route with querystring params',
          () => {
            recognizer.config(
-               new Route({path: 'forum/featured', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'ForumPage'}));
+               new Route({path: 'forum/featured', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'ForumPage'}));
 
            var params = {'start': 10, 'end': 100};
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ export function main() {
 
 
       it('should prefer positional params over query params', () => {
-        recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'profile/:name', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'User'}));
+        recognizer.config(new Route({path: 'profile/:name', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'User'}));
 
         var solution = recognize(recognizer, '/profile/yegor?name=igor');
         expect(solution.params).toEqual({'name': 'yegor'});
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ export function main() {
 
 
       it('should ignore matrix params for the top-level component', () => {
-        recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/home/:subject', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'User'}));
+        recognizer.config(new Route({path: '/home/:subject', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'User'}));
         var solution = recognize(recognizer, '/home;sort=asc/zero;one=1?two=2');
         expect(solution.params).toEqual({'subject': 'zero', 'two': '2'});
       });
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_registry_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_registry_spec.ts
index 3b83c26f19..8421694607 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_registry_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_registry_spec.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should generate URLs starting at the given component', () => {
       registry.config(RootHostCmp,
-                      new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentCmp, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+                      new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentCmp, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
       expect(stringifyInstruction(registry.generate(['FirstCmp', 'SecondCmp'], RootHostCmp)))
           .toEqual('first/second');
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate URLs that account for redirects', () => {
       registry.config(
           RootHostCmp,
-          new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentRedirectCmp, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+          new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentRedirectCmp, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
       expect(stringifyInstruction(registry.generate(['FirstCmp'], RootHostCmp)))
           .toEqual('first/second');
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate URLs in a hierarchy of redirects', () => {
       registry.config(
           RootHostCmp,
-          new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyMultipleRedirectCmp, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+          new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyMultipleRedirectCmp, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
       expect(stringifyInstruction(registry.generate(['FirstCmp'], RootHostCmp)))
           .toEqual('first/second/third');
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate URLs with params', () => {
       registry.config(
           RootHostCmp,
-          new Route({path: '/first/:param/...', component: DummyParentParamCmp, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+          new Route({path: '/first/:param/...', component: DummyParentParamCmp, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
       var url = stringifyInstruction(registry.generate(
           ['FirstCmp', {param: 'one'}, 'SecondCmp', {param: 'two'}], RootHostCmp));
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export function main() {
     });
 
     it('should generate params as an empty StringMap when no params are given', () => {
-      registry.config(RootHostCmp, new Route({path: '/test', component: DummyCmpA, as: 'Test'}));
+      registry.config(RootHostCmp, new Route({path: '/test', component: DummyCmpA, name: 'Test'}));
       var instruction = registry.generate(['Test'], RootHostCmp);
       expect(instruction.component.params).toEqual({});
     });
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
          registry.config(
              RootHostCmp,
-             new AsyncRoute({path: '/first/...', loader: AsyncParentLoader, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+             new AsyncRoute({path: '/first/...', loader: AsyncParentLoader, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
          expect(() => registry.generate(['FirstCmp', 'SecondCmp'], RootHostCmp))
              .toThrowError('Could not find route named "SecondCmp".');
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should throw when linkParams are not terminal', () => {
       registry.config(RootHostCmp,
-                      new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentCmp, as: 'First'}));
+                      new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentCmp, name: 'First'}));
       expect(() => { registry.generate(['First'], RootHostCmp); })
           .toThrowError('Link "["First"]" does not resolve to a terminal or async instruction.');
     });
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should generate URLs with matrix and query params', () => {
       registry.config(
           RootHostCmp,
-          new Route({path: '/first/:param/...', component: DummyParentParamCmp, as: 'FirstCmp'}));
+          new Route({path: '/first/:param/...', component: DummyParentParamCmp, name: 'FirstCmp'}));
 
       var url = stringifyInstruction(registry.generate(
           [
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ class DummyCmpB {}
 
 @RouteConfig([
   new Redirect({path: '/', redirectTo: '/third'}),
-  new Route({path: '/third', component: DummyCmpB, as: 'ThirdCmp'})
+  new Route({path: '/third', component: DummyCmpB, name: 'ThirdCmp'})
 ])
 class DummyRedirectCmp {
 }
@@ -302,23 +302,23 @@ class DummyRedirectCmp {
 
 @RouteConfig([
   new Redirect({path: '/', redirectTo: '/second'}),
-  new Route({path: '/second/...', component: DummyRedirectCmp, as: 'SecondCmp'})
+  new Route({path: '/second/...', component: DummyRedirectCmp, name: 'SecondCmp'})
 ])
 class DummyMultipleRedirectCmp {
 }
 
 @RouteConfig([
   new Redirect({path: '/', redirectTo: '/second'}),
-  new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyCmpB, as: 'SecondCmp'})
+  new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyCmpB, name: 'SecondCmp'})
 ])
 class DummyParentRedirectCmp {
 }
 
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyCmpB, as: 'SecondCmp'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyCmpB, name: 'SecondCmp'})])
 class DummyParentCmp {
 }
 
 
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second/:param', component: DummyCmpB, as: 'SecondCmp'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second/:param', component: DummyCmpB, name: 'SecondCmp'})])
 class DummyParentParamCmp {
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/router_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/router_spec.ts
index 9c6ccc91fa..bae43bcf97 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/router_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/router_spec.ts
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ export function main() {
          var outlet = makeDummyOutlet();
 
          router.registerPrimaryOutlet(outlet)
-             .then((_) =>
-                       router.config([new Route({path: '/a', component: DummyComponent, as: 'A'})]))
+             .then((_) => router.config(
+                       [new Route({path: '/a', component: DummyComponent, name: 'A'})]))
              .then((_) => router.navigate(['/A']))
              .then((_) => {
                expect(outlet.spy('activate')).toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ export function main() {
     });
 
     it('should generate URLs from the root component when the path starts with /', () => {
-      router.config([new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentComp, as: 'FirstCmp'})]);
+      router.config(
+          [new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentComp, name: 'FirstCmp'})]);
 
       var instruction = router.generate(['/FirstCmp', 'SecondCmp']);
       expect(stringifyInstruction(instruction)).toEqual('first/second');
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ export function main() {
          var outlet = makeDummyOutlet();
 
          router.registerPrimaryOutlet(outlet);
-         router.config([new AsyncRoute({path: '/first', loader: loader, as: 'FirstCmp'})]);
+         router.config([new AsyncRoute({path: '/first', loader: loader, name: 'FirstCmp'})]);
 
          var instruction = router.generate(['/FirstCmp']);
          router.navigateByInstruction(instruction)
@@ -164,8 +165,8 @@ export function main() {
 
          router.registerPrimaryOutlet(outlet)
              .then((_) => router.config([
-               new Route({path: '/a', component: DummyComponent, as: 'A'}),
-               new Route({path: '/b', component: DummyComponent, as: 'B'})
+               new Route({path: '/a', component: DummyComponent, name: 'A'}),
+               new Route({path: '/b', component: DummyComponent, name: 'B'})
              ]))
              .then((_) => router.navigateByUrl('/a'))
              .then((_) => {
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('query string params', () => {
       it('should use query string params for the root route', () => {
         router.config(
-            [new Route({path: '/hi/how/are/you', component: DummyComponent, as: 'GreetingUrl'})]);
+            [new Route({path: '/hi/how/are/you', component: DummyComponent, name: 'GreetingUrl'})]);
 
         var instruction = router.generate(['/GreetingUrl', {'name': 'brad'}]);
         var path = stringifyInstruction(instruction);
@@ -190,8 +191,9 @@ export function main() {
 
       it('should serialize parameters that are not part of the route definition as query string params',
          () => {
-           router.config(
-               [new Route({path: '/one/two/:three', component: DummyComponent, as: 'NumberUrl'})]);
+           router.config([
+             new Route({path: '/one/two/:three', component: DummyComponent, name: 'NumberUrl'})
+           ]);
 
            var instruction = router.generate(['/NumberUrl', {'three': 'three', 'four': 'four'}]);
            var path = stringifyInstruction(instruction);
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('matrix params', () => {
       it('should generate matrix params for each non-root component', () => {
         router.config(
-            [new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentComp, as: 'FirstCmp'})]);
+            [new Route({path: '/first/...', component: DummyParentComp, name: 'FirstCmp'})]);
 
         var instruction =
             router.generate(['/FirstCmp', {'key': 'value'}, 'SecondCmp', {'project': 'angular'}]);
@@ -212,7 +214,7 @@ export function main() {
 
       it('should work with named params', () => {
         router.config(
-            [new Route({path: '/first/:token/...', component: DummyParentComp, as: 'FirstCmp'})]);
+            [new Route({path: '/first/:token/...', component: DummyParentComp, name: 'FirstCmp'})]);
 
         var instruction =
             router.generate(['/FirstCmp', {'token': 'min'}, 'SecondCmp', {'author': 'max'}]);
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ function loader(): Promise<Type> {
 
 class DummyComponent {}
 
-@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyComponent, as: 'SecondCmp'})])
+@RouteConfig([new Route({path: '/second', component: DummyComponent, name: 'SecondCmp'})])
 class DummyParentComp {
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/playground/src/routing/inbox-app.ts b/modules/playground/src/routing/inbox-app.ts
index cac2063e4e..aa41d8875b 100644
--- a/modules/playground/src/routing/inbox-app.ts
+++ b/modules/playground/src/routing/inbox-app.ts
@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ class DraftsCmp {
 @Component({selector: 'inbox-app', viewProviders: [DbService]})
 @View({templateUrl: "inbox-app.html", directives: [RouterOutlet, RouterLink]})
 @RouteConfig([
-  new Route({path: '/', component: InboxCmp, as: 'Inbox'}),
-  new Route({path: '/drafts', component: DraftsCmp, as: 'Drafts'}),
-  new Route({path: '/detail/:id', component: InboxDetailCmp, as: 'DetailPage'})
+  new Route({path: '/', component: InboxCmp, name: 'Inbox'}),
+  new Route({path: '/drafts', component: DraftsCmp, name: 'Drafts'}),
+  new Route({path: '/detail/:id', component: InboxDetailCmp, name: 'DetailPage'})
 ])
 export class InboxApp {
   router: Router;