diff --git a/libraries/chain/asset_evaluator.cpp b/libraries/chain/asset_evaluator.cpp
index 2fe586dad7..81f35fb2da 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/asset_evaluator.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/asset_evaluator.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void_result asset_create_evaluator::do_evaluate( const asset_create_operation& o
    FC_ASSERT( asset_symbol_itr == asset_indx.end() );
 
    auto dotpos = op.symbol.find( '.' );
-   if( dotpos != std::string::npos ) {
+   if( dotpos != std::string::npos  && d.head_block_time() > HARDFORK_385_TIME ) {
       auto prefix = op.symbol.substr( 0, dotpos );
       auto asset_symbol_itr = asset_indx.find( op.symbol );
       FC_ASSERT( asset_symbol_itr != asset_indx.end(), "Asset ${s} may only be created by issuer of ${p}, but ${p} has not been registered",
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/config.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/config.hpp
index e366c18e64..c371f6e79e 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/config.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/config.hpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #define GRAPHENE_SYMBOL "BTS"
 #define GRAPHENE_ADDRESS_PREFIX "BTS"
 
-#define GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH 3
+#define GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH 1
 #define GRAPHENE_MAX_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH 63
 
 #define GRAPHENE_MIN_ASSET_SYMBOL_LENGTH 3
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp
index 01907932d0..8eb93587d4 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@
 
 #define HARDFORK_357_TIME (fc::time_point_sec( 1444416300 ))
 #define HARDFORK_359_TIME (fc::time_point_sec( 1444416300 ))
+#define HARDFORK_385_TIME (fc::time_point_sec( 1445558400 )) // October 23 enforce PARENT.CHILD and allow short names
diff --git a/libraries/chain/protocol/account.cpp b/libraries/chain/protocol/account.cpp
index 003af663a8..019a685145 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/protocol/account.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/protocol/account.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
  *
  */
 #include <graphene/chain/protocol/account.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp>
 
 namespace graphene { namespace chain {
 
@@ -53,17 +54,27 @@ namespace graphene { namespace chain {
  * - Length is between (inclusive) GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH and GRAPHENE_MAX_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH
  */
 bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
-{
-#if GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH < 3
-#error This is_valid_name implementation implicitly enforces minimum name length of 3.
-#endif
-
+{ try {
     const size_t len = name.size();
+
+    /** this condition will prevent witnesses from including new names before this time, but
+     * allow them after this time.   This check can be removed from the code after HARDFORK_385_TIME
+     * has passed.
+     */
+    if( fc::time_point::now() < fc::time_point(HARDFORK_385_TIME) )
+       FC_ASSERT( len >= 3 );
+
     if( len < GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH )
+    {
+          ilog( ".");
         return false;
+    }
 
     if( len > GRAPHENE_MAX_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH )
+    {
+          ilog( ".");
         return false;
+    }
 
     size_t begin = 0;
     while( true )
@@ -71,8 +82,11 @@ bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
        size_t end = name.find_first_of( '.', begin );
        if( end == std::string::npos )
           end = len;
-       if( end - begin < 3 )
+       if( (end - begin) < GRAPHENE_MIN_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH )
+       {
+          idump( (name) (end)(len)(begin)(GRAPHENE_MAX_ACCOUNT_NAME_LENGTH) );
           return false;
+       }
        switch( name[begin] )
        {
           case 'a': case 'b': case 'c': case 'd': case 'e': case 'f': case 'g': case 'h':
@@ -81,6 +95,7 @@ bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
           case 'y': case 'z':
              break;
           default:
+          ilog( ".");
              return false;
        }
        switch( name[end-1] )
@@ -93,6 +108,7 @@ bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
           case '8': case '9':
              break;
           default:
+          ilog( ".");
              return false;
        }
        for( size_t i=begin+1; i<end-1; i++ )
@@ -108,6 +124,7 @@ bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
              case '-':
                 break;
              default:
+          ilog( ".");
                 return false;
           }
        }
@@ -116,7 +133,7 @@ bool is_valid_name( const string& name )
        begin = end+1;
     }
     return true;
-}
+} FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (name) ) }
 
 bool is_cheap_name( const string& n )
 {