diff --git a/src/db/db/built-in-macros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym b/src/db/db/built-in-macros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
index 6a9c21f9d..1db044b21 100644
--- a/src/db/db/built-in-macros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
+++ b/src/db/db/built-in-macros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
@@ -149,6 +149,18 @@ created as well.
 This method must be reimplemented in a PCell class to identify the PCell in human-readable form.
 This text is shown in the cell tree for the PCell for example.
 
+@method cell_name_impl
+
+@brief Delivers the cell name to be used for the PCell variant
+
+A PCell variant is represented in the cell tree by a placeholder cell. By
+default, the name of this cell is the PCell name. Since multiple variants
+may exist, usually a disambiguator is added to the name (e.g. "..$1"). 
+
+This method allows encoding the PCell parameters into that cell name, 
+so the PCell variant is easier to identify in the cell tree - for example
+in the GDS file - instead of the unspecific disambiguator.
+
 @method produce_impl
 
 @brief Produces the layout
@@ -466,6 +478,19 @@ module RBA
       text
     end
     
+    # implementation of display_text
+    def cell_name(parameters)
+      self._start
+      @param_values = parameters
+      text = ""
+      begin
+        text = cell_name_impl
+      ensure
+        self._finish
+      end
+      text
+    end
+    
     # get the parameters
     def get_parameters
       @param_decls
@@ -568,6 +593,11 @@ module RBA
       ""
     end
    
+    # default implementation
+    def cell_name_impl
+      self.name
+    end
+   
     # default implementation 
     def coerce_parameters_impl
     end
diff --git a/src/db/db/built-in-pymacros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym b/src/db/db/built-in-pymacros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
index 39b4c4807..8b763e6e7 100644
--- a/src/db/db/built-in-pymacros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
+++ b/src/db/db/built-in-pymacros/pcell_declaration_helper.lym
@@ -158,6 +158,18 @@ created as well.
 This method must be reimplemented in a PCell class to identify the PCell in human-readable form.
 This text is shown in the cell tree for the PCell for example.
 
+@method cell_name_impl
+
+@brief Delivers the cell name to be used for the PCell variant
+
+A PCell variant is represented in the cell tree by a placeholder cell. By
+default, the name of this cell is the PCell name. Since multiple variants
+may exist, usually a disambiguator is added to the name (e.g. "..$1"). 
+
+This method allows encoding the PCell parameters into that cell name, 
+so the PCell variant is easier to identify in the cell tree - for example
+in the GDS file - instead of the unspecific disambiguator.
+
 @method produce_impl
 
 @brief Produces the layout
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbCell.cc b/src/db/db/dbCell.cc
index 629ae4e92..cb56e7354 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbCell.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbCell.cc
@@ -862,6 +862,12 @@ Cell::get_basic_name () const
   return layout ()->cell_name (cell_index ());
 }
 
+std::string
+Cell::get_variant_name () const
+{
+  return get_basic_name ();
+}
+
 std::string
 Cell::get_qualified_name () const
 {
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbCell.h b/src/db/db/dbCell.h
index 2a64cdf23..7ba54fc71 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbCell.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbCell.h
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ public:
   void set_name (const std::string &name);
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Get the basic name
+   *  @brief Gets the basic name
    *
    *  The basic name of the cell is either the cell name or the cell name in the
    *  target library (for library proxies) or the PCell name (for PCell proxies).
@@ -898,6 +898,14 @@ public:
    */
   virtual std::string get_basic_name () const;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the variant name
+   *
+   *  The variant name is the PCell's "cell_name" - which may encode the PCell parameters
+   *  into a formal name. Usually that is identical to the PCell name.
+   */
+  virtual std::string get_variant_name () const;
+
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the display name
    *
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbColdProxy.cc b/src/db/db/dbColdProxy.cc
index 3ccb5806a..e83c712eb 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbColdProxy.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbColdProxy.cc
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ ColdProxy::get_basic_name () const
   }
 }
 
-std::string 
+std::string
 ColdProxy::get_display_name () const
 {
   if (! mp_context_info->lib_name.empty ()) {
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLayout.cc b/src/db/db/dbLayout.cc
index bf2a84e0e..e7c93b663 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLayout.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLayout.cc
@@ -2462,7 +2462,7 @@ Layout::get_pcell_variant_dict (pcell_id_type pcell_id, const std::map<std::stri
   pcell_variant_type *variant = header->get_variant (*this, parameters);
   if (! variant) {
 
-    std::string b (header->get_name ());
+    std::string b (header->declaration ()->get_cell_name (parameters));
     if (m_cell_map.find (b.c_str ()) != m_cell_map.end ()) {
       b = uniquify_cell_name (b.c_str ());
     }
@@ -2501,7 +2501,7 @@ Layout::get_pcell_variant (pcell_id_type pcell_id, const std::vector<tl::Variant
   pcell_variant_type *variant = header->get_variant (*this, parameters);
   if (! variant) {
 
-    std::string b (header->get_name ());
+    std::string b (header->declaration ()->get_cell_name (parameters));
     if (m_cell_map.find (b.c_str ()) != m_cell_map.end ()) {
       b = uniquify_cell_name (b.c_str ());
     }
@@ -2627,9 +2627,18 @@ Layout::convert_cell_to_static (db::cell_index_type ci)
 
     const cell_type &org_cell = cell (ci);
 
-    //  Note: convert to static cell by explicitly cloning to the db::Cell class
-    ret_ci = add_cell (org_cell.get_basic_name ().c_str ());
+
+    std::string vn = org_cell.get_variant_name ();
+    if (vn == cell_name (ci)) {
+      //  there is a cell name conflict: give priority to the static cell, so it
+      //  will see the variant name
+      std::string rename_org = uniquify_cell_name (cell_name (ci));
+      rename_cell (ci, rename_org.c_str ());
+    }
+
+    ret_ci = add_cell (vn.c_str ());
     cell_type &new_cell = cell (ret_ci);
+    //  Note: we convert to static cell by explicitly cloning to the db::Cell class
     new_cell = org_cell;
     new_cell.set_cell_index (ret_ci);
 
@@ -3126,6 +3135,12 @@ Layout::basic_name (cell_index_type cell_index) const
   return cell (cell_index).get_basic_name ();
 }
 
+std::string
+Layout::variant_name (cell_index_type cell_index) const
+{
+  return cell (cell_index).get_variant_name ();
+}
+
 void
 Layout::register_lib_proxy (db::LibraryProxy *lib_proxy)
 {
@@ -3161,7 +3176,7 @@ Layout::get_lib_proxy (Library *lib, cell_index_type cell_index)
   } else {
 
     //  create a new unique name
-    std::string b (lib->layout ().basic_name (cell_index));
+    std::string b (lib->layout ().variant_name (cell_index));
     if (m_cell_map.find (b.c_str ()) != m_cell_map.end ()) {
       b = uniquify_cell_name (b.c_str ());
     }
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLayout.h b/src/db/db/dbLayout.h
index 4c0d0078a..9104d758d 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLayout.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLayout.h
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ public:
   std::string display_name (cell_index_type cell_index) const;
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Return the basic name for the given cell 
+   *  @brief Returns the basic name for the given cell
    *
    *  This method is forwarded to the respective method of the cell.
    *  The basic name is the "original"  cell name within the library or
@@ -684,7 +684,16 @@ public:
    */
   std::string basic_name (cell_index_type cell_index) const;
 
-  /** 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Returns the variant name for the given cell
+   *
+   *  The variant name usually is the basic name. For PCells, this name
+   *  can encode PCell parameters, depending on the definition of the
+   *  PCell.
+   */
+  std::string variant_name (cell_index_type cell_index) const;
+
+  /**
    *  @brief Add a cell object with the given ID and name
    *
    *  This method is basically supposed to be used for "undo" and "redo". 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.cc b/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.cc
index 87db31672..c44a319c8 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.cc
@@ -257,7 +257,23 @@ LibraryProxy::get_basic_name () const
   }
 }
 
-std::string 
+std::string
+LibraryProxy::get_variant_name () const
+{
+  Library *lib = LibraryManager::instance ().lib (lib_id ());
+  if (lib) {
+    if (! lib->layout ().is_valid_cell_index (library_cell_index ())) {
+      return "<defunct>";
+    } else {
+      const db::Cell &lib_cell = lib->layout ().cell (library_cell_index ());
+      return lib_cell.get_variant_name ();
+    }
+  } else {
+    return Cell::get_variant_name ();
+  }
+}
+
+std::string
 LibraryProxy::get_display_name () const
 {
   Library *lib = LibraryManager::instance ().lib (lib_id ());
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.h b/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.h
index e1f026ed7..8c72787cc 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLibraryProxy.h
@@ -96,25 +96,28 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the basic name
    *
-   *  The basic name of the cell is either the cell name or the cell name in the
-   *  target library (for library proxies) or the PCell name (for PCell proxies).
-   *  The actual name may be different by a extension to make it unique.
+   *  This returns the basic name of the proxy target
    */
   virtual std::string get_basic_name () const;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the variant name
+   *
+   *  This returns the basic name of the proxy target
+   */
+  virtual std::string get_variant_name () const;
+
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the display name
    *
-   *  The display name is some "nice" descriptive name of the cell (variant)
-   *  For normal cells this name is equivalent to the normal cell name.
+   *  This returns the basic name of the proxy target
    */
   virtual std::string get_display_name () const;
 
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the qualified name
    *
-   *  The qualified name for a library proxy is made from the library name, a
-   *  dot and the cell's name.
+   *  Gets a combination of the library name and the target cell's qualified name
    */
   virtual std::string get_qualified_name () const;
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbPCellDeclaration.h b/src/db/db/dbPCellDeclaration.h
index 7db690f4c..a75718d83 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbPCellDeclaration.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbPCellDeclaration.h
@@ -673,6 +673,18 @@ public:
     return std::string ();
   }
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets a cell name for the PCell, which can depend on the parameters
+   *
+   *  The actual cell name in the layout may differ by disambiguation. This method
+   *  delivers a proposal for a cell name.
+   *  By default, the PCell name is returned.
+   */
+  virtual std::string get_cell_name (const pcell_parameters_type &) const
+  {
+    return m_name;
+  }
+
   /**
    *  @brief Returns the description text of the PCell
    *
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.cc b/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.cc
index b401c8471..bebda8921 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.cc
@@ -86,7 +86,18 @@ PCellVariant::get_basic_name () const
   }
 }
 
-std::string 
+std::string
+PCellVariant::get_variant_name () const
+{
+  const PCellHeader *header = pcell_header ();
+  if (header) {
+    return m_variant_name;
+  } else {
+    return Cell::get_basic_name ();
+  }
+}
+
+std::string
 PCellVariant::get_display_name () const
 {
   const PCellHeader *header = pcell_header ();
@@ -172,6 +183,7 @@ PCellVariant::update (ImportLayerMapping *layer_mapping)
       header->declaration ()->produce (*layout (), layer_ids, plist, *this);
 
       m_display_name = header->declaration ()->get_display_name (plist);
+      m_variant_name = header->declaration ()->get_cell_name (plist);
 
     } catch (tl::Exception &ex) {
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.h b/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.h
index b4de1a1f5..c20aafeaf 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbPCellVariant.h
@@ -94,42 +94,37 @@ public:
   }
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Get the basic name
-   *
-   *  The basic name of the cell is either the cell name or the cell name in the
-   *  target library (for library proxies) or the PCell name (for PCell proxies).
-   *  The actual name may be different by a extension to make it unique.
+   *  @brief Gets the basic name
    */
   virtual std::string get_basic_name () const;
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Get the display name
-   *
-   *  The display name is some "nice" descriptive name of the cell (variant)
-   *  For normal cells this name is equivalent to the normal cell name.
+   *  @brief Gets the variant name
+   */
+  virtual std::string get_variant_name () const;
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the display name
    */
   virtual std::string get_display_name () const;
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Unregister a cell from it's context.
+   *  @brief Unregisters a cell from it's context.
    */
   virtual void unregister ();
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Reregister a cell inside it's context.
+   *  @brief Re-registers a cell inside it's context.
    */
   virtual void reregister ();
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Update the layout
+   *  @brief Updates the layout
    */
   virtual void update (ImportLayerMapping *layer_mapping = 0);
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Tell, if this cell is a proxy cell
-   *
-   *  Proxy cells are such whose layout represents a snapshot of another entity.
-   *  Such cells can be PCell variants or library references for example.
+   *  @brief Gets a value indicating if this cell is a proxy cell
    */
   virtual bool is_proxy () const 
   { 
@@ -138,7 +133,7 @@ public:
 
 protected:
   /**
-   *  @brief Get the PCell header for this variant
+   *  @brief Gets the PCell header for this variant
    */
   PCellHeader *pcell_header () 
   {
@@ -146,7 +141,7 @@ protected:
   }
 
   /**
-   *  @brief Get the PCell header for this variant
+   *  @brief Gets the PCell header for this variant
    */
   const PCellHeader *pcell_header () const
   {
@@ -156,6 +151,7 @@ protected:
 private:
   pcell_parameters_type m_parameters;
   mutable std::string m_display_name;
+  mutable std::string m_variant_name;
   db::pcell_id_type m_pcell_id;
   bool m_registered;
 };
diff --git a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbLibrary.cc b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbLibrary.cc
index d06caba5f..2693b0bb5 100644
--- a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbLibrary.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbLibrary.cc
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ Class<db::PCellDeclaration> decl_PCellDeclaration_Native ("db", "PCellDeclaratio
   gsi::method ("via_types", &db::PCellDeclaration::via_types) +
   gsi::method ("description", &db::PCellDeclaration::get_description) +
   gsi::method ("display_text", &db::PCellDeclaration::get_display_name, gsi::arg ("parameters")) +
+  gsi::method ("cell_name", &db::PCellDeclaration::get_cell_name, gsi::arg ("parameters")) +
   gsi::method ("layout", &db::PCellDeclaration::layout,
     "@brief Gets the Layout object the PCell is registered in or nil if it is not registered yet.\n"
     "This attribute has been added in version 0.27.5."
@@ -659,6 +660,20 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
+  std::string get_cell_name_fb (const db::pcell_parameters_type &parameters) const
+  {
+    return db::PCellDeclaration::get_cell_name (parameters);
+  }
+
+  virtual std::string get_cell_name (const db::pcell_parameters_type &parameters) const
+  {
+    if (cb_get_cell_name.can_issue ()) {
+      return cb_get_cell_name.issue<db::PCellDeclaration, std::string, const db::pcell_parameters_type &> (&db::PCellDeclaration::get_cell_name, parameters);
+    } else {
+      return db::PCellDeclaration::get_cell_name (parameters);
+    }
+  }
+
   gsi::Callback cb_get_layer_declarations;
   gsi::Callback cb_get_parameter_declarations;
   gsi::Callback cb_produce;
@@ -669,6 +684,7 @@ public:
   gsi::Callback cb_coerce_parameters;
   gsi::Callback cb_callback;
   gsi::Callback cb_get_display_name;
+  gsi::Callback cb_get_cell_name;
   gsi::Callback cb_get_description;
   gsi::Callback cb_via_types;
 };
@@ -809,6 +825,13 @@ Class<PCellDeclarationImpl> decl_PCellDeclaration (decl_PCellDeclaration_Native,
     "@brief Returns the display text for this PCell given a certain parameter set\n"
     "Reimplement this method to create a distinct display text for a PCell variant with \n"
     "the given parameter set. If this method is not implemented, a default text is created. \n"
+  ) +
+  gsi::callback ("cell_name", &PCellDeclarationImpl::get_cell_name, &PCellDeclarationImpl::cb_get_cell_name, gsi::arg ("parameters"),
+    "@brief Returns a cell name used for the PCell variant\n"
+    "Reimplement this method to create a cell name the system uses for the PCell variant. By default that is the PCell name.\n"
+    "This feature allows encoding the PCell parameters into the cell name for easier identification of the PCell variant in a cell tree.\n"
+    "\n"
+    "This feature has been added in version 0.30.5.\n"
   ),
   "@brief A PCell declaration providing the parameters and code to produce the PCell\n"
   "\n"
diff --git a/src/pymod/distutils_src/klayout/db/pcell_declaration_helper.py b/src/pymod/distutils_src/klayout/db/pcell_declaration_helper.py
index 773ff03c7..6a89fc446 100644
--- a/src/pymod/distutils_src/klayout/db/pcell_declaration_helper.py
+++ b/src/pymod/distutils_src/klayout/db/pcell_declaration_helper.py
@@ -138,6 +138,21 @@ class _PCellDeclarationHelperMixin:
       self._finish()
     return text
   
+  def cell_name(self, parameters):
+    """
+    Reimplementation of PCellDeclaration.cell_name
+
+    This function delegates the implementation to self.cell_name_impl
+    after configuring the PCellDeclaration object.
+    """
+    self._start()
+    self._param_values = parameters
+    try:
+      text = self.cell_name_impl()
+    finally:
+      self._finish()
+    return text
+  
   def get_parameters(self):
     """
     Reimplementation of PCellDeclaration.get_parameters
@@ -333,6 +348,12 @@ class _PCellDeclarationHelperMixin:
     """
     return ""
  
+  def cell_name_impl(self):
+    """
+    default implementation
+    """
+    return self.name()
+ 
   def coerce_parameters_impl(self):
     """
     default implementation