diff --git a/lib/dns/include/dns/name.h b/lib/dns/include/dns/name.h
index 793da57b88..3d11f292b4 100644
--- a/lib/dns/include/dns/name.h
+++ b/lib/dns/include/dns/name.h
@@ -501,6 +501,33 @@ void dns_name_getlabelsequence(dns_name_t *source,
  *	first + n <= dns_label_countlabels(name)
  */
 
+
+void
+dns_name_clone(dns_name_t *source, dns_name_t *target);
+/*
+ * Make 'target' refer to the same name as 'source'.
+ *
+ * Notes:
+ *
+ *	'target' refers to the same memory as 'source', so 'source'
+ *	must not be changed while 'target' is still in use.
+ *
+ *	This call is functionally equivalent to:
+ *
+ *		dns_name_getlabelsequence(source, 0, 
+ *					  dns_label_countlabels(source),
+ *					  target);
+ *
+ *	but is more efficient.  Also, dns_name_clone() works even if 'source'
+ *	is empty.
+ *
+ * Requires:
+ *
+ *	'source' is a valid name.
+ *
+ *	'target' is a valid name that is not read-only.
+ */
+
 /***
  *** Conversions
  ***/
diff --git a/lib/dns/name.c b/lib/dns/name.c
index 4ca5911ae1..d896810dbf 100644
--- a/lib/dns/name.c
+++ b/lib/dns/name.c
@@ -777,6 +777,31 @@ dns_name_getlabelsequence(dns_name_t *source,
 			    ISC_FALSE);
 }
 
+void
+dns_name_clone(dns_name_t *source, dns_name_t *target) {
+
+	/*
+	 * Make 'target' refer to the same name as 'source'.
+	 */
+
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NAME(source));
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NAME(target));
+	REQUIRE((target->attributes & DNS_NAMEATTR_READONLY) == 0);
+
+	target->ndata = source->ndata;
+	target->length = source->length;
+	target->labels = source->labels;
+	target->attributes = source->attributes;
+	if (target->offsets != NULL && source->labels > 0) {
+		if (source->offsets != NULL)
+			memcpy(target->offsets, source->offsets,
+			       source->labels);
+		else
+			set_offsets(target, target->offsets, ISC_FALSE,
+				    ISC_FALSE, ISC_FALSE);
+	}
+}
+
 void
 dns_name_fromregion(dns_name_t *name, isc_region_t *r) {
 	unsigned char *offsets;