diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 88e3c94bd..9dd58a8a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -68,8 +68,10 @@ launch zsh
 launch vim
 launch irssi --profile x
 
-# Create a new tab
-new_tab
+# Create a new tab (the part after new_tab is the optional tab name which will
+# be displayed in the tab bar, if ommitted, the title of the active window will
+# be used instead)
+new_tab my tab
 cd ~/somewhere
 # Set the layouts allowed in this tab
 enabled_layouts tall, stack
diff --git a/kitty/session.py b/kitty/session.py
index 861d0c94e..96df6254e 100644
--- a/kitty/session.py
+++ b/kitty/session.py
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ from .layout import all_layouts
 
 class Tab:
 
-    def __init__(self, opts):
+    def __init__(self, opts, name):
         self.windows = []
+        self.name = name.strip()
         self.active_window_idx = 0
         self.enabled_layouts = opts.enabled_layouts
         self.layout = (self.enabled_layouts or ['tall'])[0]
@@ -25,8 +26,10 @@ class Session:
         self.tabs = []
         self.active_tab_idx = 0
 
-    def add_tab(self, opts):
-        self.tabs.append(Tab(opts))
+    def add_tab(self, opts, name=''):
+        if self.tabs and not self.tabs[-1].windows:
+            del self.tabs[-1]
+        self.tabs.append(Tab(opts, name))
 
     def set_layout(self, val):
         if val not in all_layouts:
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ def parse_session(raw, opts):
             cmd, rest = line.partition(' ')[::2]
             cmd, rest = cmd.strip(), rest.strip()
             if cmd == 'new_tab':
-                ans.add_tab(opts)
+                ans.add_tab(opts, rest)
             elif cmd == 'layout':
                 ans.set_layout(rest)
             elif cmd == 'launch':
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index cd1d1a18f..e111f4336 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class Tab:
 
     def __init__(self, opts, args, on_title_change, session_tab=None):
         self.opts, self.args = opts, args
+        self.name = getattr(session_tab, 'name', '')
         self.on_title_change = on_title_change
         self.enabled_layouts = list((session_tab or opts).enabled_layouts)
         self.borders = Borders(opts)
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ class TabManager:
         at = self.active_tab
 
         for t in self.tabs:
-            title = (t.title or appname) + ' '
+            title = (t.name or t.title or appname) + ' '
             s.cursor.bg = self.active_bg if t is at else 0
             s.cursor.fg = self.active_fg if t is at else 0
             s.cursor.bold = t is at