diff --git a/include/osg/Object b/include/osg/Object
index 01dd65619..94fd616c7 100644
--- a/include/osg/Object
+++ b/include/osg/Object
@@ -96,13 +96,13 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Object : public Referenced
         
 
         /** Set the name of object using C++ style string.*/
-        inline void setName( const std::string& name ) { _name = name; }
+        virtual void setName( const std::string& name ) { _name = name; }
 
         /** Set the name of object using a C style string.*/
         inline void setName( const char* name )
         {
-            if (name) _name = name;
-            else _name.clear();
+            if (name) setName(std::string(name));
+            else setName(std::string());
         }
 
         /** Get the name of object.*/
diff --git a/include/osg/Uniform b/include/osg/Uniform
index 0207f7141..1eaa0311e 100644
--- a/include/osg/Uniform
+++ b/include/osg/Uniform
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Uniform : public Object
         Type getType() const { return _type; }
 
         /** Set the name of the glUniform, ensuring it is only set once.*/
-        void setName( const std::string& name );
+        virtual void setName( const std::string& name );
 
         /** Set the length of a uniform, ensuring it is only set once (1==scalar)*/
         void setNumElements( unsigned int numElements );
diff --git a/src/osg/Uniform.cpp b/src/osg/Uniform.cpp
index 02e9ef1c5..b6b736b29 100644
--- a/src/osg/Uniform.cpp
+++ b/src/osg/Uniform.cpp
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ void Uniform::setName( const std::string& name )
         OSG_WARN << "cannot change Uniform name" << std::endl;
         return;
     }
-    _name = name;
-    _nameID = getNameID(name);
+    Object::setName(name);
+    _nameID = getNameID(_name);
 }
 
 void Uniform::setNumElements( unsigned int numElements )