diff --git a/src/towncrier/newsfragments/587.bugfix b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/587.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eeec305f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/587.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+The default Markdown template now renders a title containing the release version and date, even when the `name` configuration is left empty.
diff --git a/src/towncrier/templates/default.md b/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
index 9afb5c49..cc894f60 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
+++ b/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {% if versiondata.name %}
 # {{ versiondata.name }} {{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
 {% else %}
-{{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
+# {{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
 {% endif %}
 {% endif %}
 {% for section, _ in sections.items() %}
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_build.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_build.py
index 76f6e8aa..241425e9 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_build.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_build.py
@@ -1248,6 +1248,53 @@ def test_default_start_string_markdown(self, runner):
 
         self.assertEqual(expected_output, output)
 
+    @with_project(
+        config="""
+        [tool.towncrier]
+        name = ""
+        directory = "changes"
+        filename = "NEWS.md"
+        version = "1.2.3"
+        """
+    )
+    def test_markdown_no_name_title(self, runner):
+        """
+        When configured with an empty `name` option,
+        the default template used for Markdown
+        renders the title of the release note with just
+        the version number and release date.
+        """
+        write("changes/123.feature", "Adds levitation")
+        write(
+            "NEWS.md",
+            contents="""
+                A line
+
+                <!-- towncrier release notes start -->
+            """,
+            dedent=True,
+        )
+
+        result = runner.invoke(_main, ["--date", "01-01-2001"], catch_exceptions=False)
+        self.assertEqual(0, result.exit_code, result.output)
+        output = read("NEWS.md")
+
+        expected_output = dedent(
+            """
+            A line
+
+            <!-- towncrier release notes start -->
+
+            # 1.2.3 (01-01-2001)
+
+            ### Features
+
+            - Adds levitation (#123)
+            """
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(expected_output, output)
+
     @with_project(
         config="""
         [tool.towncrier]