diff --git a/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/PublishingHelperExtension.kt b/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/PublishingHelperExtension.kt
index 7363a15e87..419f6afbaf 100644
--- a/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/PublishingHelperExtension.kt
+++ b/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/PublishingHelperExtension.kt
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ abstract class PublishingHelperExtension
 constructor(objectFactory: ObjectFactory, project: Project) {
   // the following are only relevant on the root project
   val asfProjectName = objectFactory.property<String>().convention(project.name)
+  val overrideName = objectFactory.property<String>()
+  val overrideDescription = objectFactory.property<String>()
   val baseName =
     objectFactory
       .property<String>()
diff --git a/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/configurePom.kt b/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/configurePom.kt
index 47088b31f5..13ac211a66 100644
--- a/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/configurePom.kt
+++ b/build-logic/src/main/kotlin/publishing/configurePom.kt
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ internal fun configurePom(project: Project, mavenPublication: MavenPublication,
             }
             issueManagement { url.set(projectPeople.bugDatabase) }
 
-            name.set(projectPeople.name)
-            description.set(projectPeople.description)
+            name.set(e.overrideName.orElse(projectPeople.name))
+            description.set(e.overrideDescription.orElse(projectPeople.description))
             url.set(projectPeople.website)
             inceptionYear.set(projectPeople.inceptionYear.toString())