diff --git a/README.asciidoc b/README.asciidoc
index a20530a8..ff240ff1 100644
--- a/README.asciidoc
+++ b/README.asciidoc
@@ -1017,27 +1017,33 @@ selection.
 Registers are lists, instead of simply text in order to interact well with
 multiselection. Each selection has its own captures or yank buffer.
 
+Alternate names
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+non alphanumeric registers have an alternative name that can be used
+in contexts where only alphanumeric identifiers are possible.
+
 Special registers
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 Some registers are not general purposes, they cannot be written to, but they
 contain some special data:
 
- * `%`: current buffer name
- * `.`: current selection contents
- * `#`: selection indices (first selection has 1, second has 2, ...)
- * `_`: null register, always empty
+ * `%` (`percent`): current buffer name
+ * `.` (`dot`): current selection contents
+ * `#` (`dash`): selection indices (first selection has 1, second has 2, ...)
+ * `_` (`underscore`): null register, always empty
 
 Default registers
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 Most commands using a register default to a specific one if not specified:
 
- * `"`: default yank, used by yanking and pasting commands like `y`, `p` and `R`
- * `/`: default search register, used by regex based commands like `s`, `*` or `/`
- * `@`: default macro register, used by `q` and `Q`
- * `^`: default mark register, used by `z` and `Z`
- * `|`: default shell command register, used by command that spawn a subshell such as `|`, `<a-|>`, `!` or `<a-!>`
+ * `"` (`dqoute`): default yank register, used by yanking and pasting commands like `y`, `p` and `R`
+ * `/` (`slash`): default search register, used by regex based commands like `s`, `*` or `/`
+ * `@` (`arobase`): default macro register, used by `q` and `Q`
+ * `^` (`caret`): default mark register, used by `z` and `Z`
+ * `|` (`pipe`): default shell command register, used by command that spawn a subshell such as `|`, `<a-|>`, `!` or `<a-!>`
 
 Macros
 ~~~~~~
diff --git a/doc/manpages/registers.asciidoc b/doc/manpages/registers.asciidoc
index 4ad233df..8fbb9175 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/registers.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/manpages/registers.asciidoc
@@ -20,25 +20,31 @@ Interacting
 *"<c>*::
 	in normal mode, select the *<c>* register (single character)
 
+Alternate names
+---------------
+
+non alphanumeric registers have an alternative name that can be used
+in contexts where only alphanumeric identifiers are possible.
+
 Default registers
 -----------------
 Most commands using a register default to a specific one if not specified:
 
-*"*::
-	default yank, used by yanking and pasting commands like *y*, *p*
+*"* (dquote)::
+	default yank register, used by yanking and pasting commands like *y*, *p*
 	and *R*
 
-*/*::
+*/* (slash)::
 	default search register, used by regex based commands like *s*, ***
 	or */*
 
-*@*::
+*@* (arobase)::
 	default macro register, used by *q* and *Q*
 
-*^*::
+*^* (caret)::
 	default mark register, used by *z* and *Z*
 
-*|*::
+*|* (pipe)::
 	default shell command register, used by command that spawn a subshell such as
 	*|*, *<a-|>*, *!* or *<a-!>*
 
@@ -47,16 +53,16 @@ Special registers
 Some registers are not general purposes, they cannot be written to, but they
 contain some special data
 
-*%*::
+*%* (percent)::
 	current buffer name
 
-*.*::
+*.* (dot)::
 	current selection contents
 
-*#*::
+*#* (dash)::
 	selection indices (first selection has 1, second has 2, ...)
 
-*_*::
+*_* (underscore)::
 	null register, always empty
 
 Integer registers
diff --git a/src/register_manager.cc b/src/register_manager.cc
index c026f3fc..a1ebabf2 100644
--- a/src/register_manager.cc
+++ b/src/register_manager.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ Register& RegisterManager::operator[](StringView reg) const
         { "dquote", '"' },
         { "pipe", '|' },
         { "caret", '^' },
-        { "arobase", '@' }
+        { "arobase", '@' },
+        { "percent", '%' },
+        { "dot", '.' },
+        { "dash", '#' },
+        { "underscore", '_' }
     };
     auto it = reg_names.find(reg);
     if (it == reg_names.end())