diff --git a/doc/source/user/config.rst b/doc/source/user/config.rst
index 916e66a..fff673b 100644
--- a/doc/source/user/config.rst
+++ b/doc/source/user/config.rst
@@ -1032,11 +1032,12 @@
    The following attributes may appear in a project:
 
    .. attr:: name
-      :required:
 
       The name of the project.  If Zuul is configured with two or more
       unique projects with the same name, the canonical hostname for
       the project should be included (e.g., `git.example.com/foo`).
+      If not given it is implicitly derived from the project where this
+      is defined.
 
    .. attr:: templates
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/playbooks/test-common.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/playbooks/test-common.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f679dce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/playbooks/test-common.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/zuul.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..038c412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/common-config/zuul.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+- pipeline:
+    name: check
+    manager: independent
+    post-review: true
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: patchset-created
+    success:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 1
+    failure:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: -1
+
+- pipeline:
+    name: gate
+    manager: dependent
+    success-message: Build succeeded (gate).
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: comment-added
+          approval:
+            - Approved: 1
+    success:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 2
+        submit: true
+    failure:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: -2
+    start:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 0
+    precedence: high
+
+
+- job:
+    name: base
+    parent: null
+
+- job:
+    name: test-common
+    run: playbooks/test-common.yaml
+
+- project:
+    check:
+      jobs:
+        - test-common
+
+- project:
+    name: org/project
+    check:
+      jobs:
+        - test-common
+    gate:
+      jobs:
+        - test-common
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bce195c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/.zuul.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+- job:
+    name: test-project
+    run: playbooks/test-project.yaml
+
+- project:
+    check:
+      jobs:
+        - test-project
+    gate:
+      jobs:
+        - test-project
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/playbooks/test-project.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/playbooks/test-project.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f679dce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/git/org_project/playbooks/test-project.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- hosts: all
+  tasks: []
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/main.yaml b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/main.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..208e274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/config/implicit-project/main.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+- tenant:
+    name: tenant-one
+    source:
+      gerrit:
+        config-projects:
+          - common-config
+        untrusted-projects:
+          - org/project
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py b/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
index aacc81e..6bbf098 100755
--- a/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_scheduler.py
@@ -6070,6 +6070,77 @@
         self.assertEqual(B.reported, 1)
 
 
+class TestImplicitProject(ZuulTestCase):
+    tenant_config_file = 'config/implicit-project/main.yaml'
+
+    def test_implicit_project(self):
+        # config project should work with implicit project name
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('common-config', 'master', 'A')
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+
+        # untrusted project should work with implicit project name
+        B = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A')
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(B.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+        self.assertEqual(A.data['status'], 'NEW')
+        self.assertEqual(A.reported, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(B.data['status'], 'NEW')
+        self.assertEqual(B.reported, 1)
+        self.assertHistory([
+            dict(name='test-common', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
+            dict(name='test-common', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+            dict(name='test-project', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+        ], ordered=False)
+
+        # now test adding a further project in repo
+        in_repo_conf = textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            - job:
+                name: test-project
+                run: playbooks/test-project.yaml
+            - job:
+                name: test2-project
+                run: playbooks/test-project.yaml
+
+            - project:
+                check:
+                  jobs:
+                    - test-project
+                gate:
+                  jobs:
+                    - test-project
+
+            - project:
+                check:
+                  jobs:
+                    - test2-project
+                gate:
+                  jobs:
+                    - test2-project
+
+            """)
+        file_dict = {'.zuul.yaml': in_repo_conf}
+        C = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A',
+                                           files=file_dict)
+        C.addApproval('Code-Review', 2)
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(C.addApproval('Approved', 1))
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+
+        # change C must be merged
+        self.assertEqual(C.data['status'], 'MERGED')
+        self.assertEqual(C.reported, 2)
+        self.assertHistory([
+            dict(name='test-common', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
+            dict(name='test-common', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+            dict(name='test-project', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+            dict(name='test-common', result='SUCCESS', changes='3,1'),
+            dict(name='test-project', result='SUCCESS', changes='3,1'),
+            dict(name='test2-project', result='SUCCESS', changes='3,1'),
+        ], ordered=False)
+
+
 class TestSemaphoreInRepo(ZuulTestCase):
     config_file = 'zuul-connections-gerrit-and-github.conf'
     tenant_config_file = 'config/in-repo/main.yaml'
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_v3.py b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
index 44aa966..2779e6e 100755
--- a/tests/unit/test_v3.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
@@ -543,11 +543,23 @@
                 name: project-test2
                 run: playbooks/project-test2.yaml
 
+            - job:
+                name: project-test3
+                run: playbooks/project-test2.yaml
+
+            # add a job by the short project name
             - project:
                 name: org/project
                 tenant-one-gate:
                   jobs:
                     - project-test2
+
+            # add a job by the canonical project name
+            - project:
+                name: review.example.com/org/project
+                tenant-one-gate:
+                  jobs:
+                    - project-test3
             """)
 
         in_repo_playbook = textwrap.dedent(
@@ -569,7 +581,9 @@
         self.assertIn('tenant-one-gate', A.messages[1],
                       "A should transit tenant-one gate")
         self.assertHistory([
-            dict(name='project-test2', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1')])
+            dict(name='project-test2', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
+            dict(name='project-test3', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
+        ], ordered=False)
 
         self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.getChangeMergedEvent())
         self.waitUntilSettled()
@@ -584,7 +598,10 @@
                          'SUCCESS')
         self.assertHistory([
             dict(name='project-test2', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
-            dict(name='project-test2', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1')])
+            dict(name='project-test3', result='SUCCESS', changes='1,1'),
+            dict(name='project-test2', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+            dict(name='project-test3', result='SUCCESS', changes='2,1'),
+        ], ordered=False)
 
     def test_dynamic_template(self):
         # Tests that a project can't update a template in another
diff --git a/zuul/configloader.py b/zuul/configloader.py
index 71c4ccc..3a7e9b9 100644
--- a/zuul/configloader.py
+++ b/zuul/configloader.py
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@
 
     def getSchema(self):
         project = {
-            vs.Required('name'): str,
+            'name': str,
             'description': str,
             'templates': [str],
             'merge-mode': vs.Any('merge', 'merge-resolve',
@@ -1228,8 +1228,8 @@
                                                   tenant.config_projects,
                                                   tenant.untrusted_projects,
                                                   cached, tenant)
-        unparsed_config.extend(tenant.config_projects_config, tenant=tenant)
-        unparsed_config.extend(tenant.untrusted_projects_config, tenant=tenant)
+        unparsed_config.extend(tenant.config_projects_config, tenant)
+        unparsed_config.extend(tenant.untrusted_projects_config, tenant)
         tenant.layout = TenantParser._parseLayout(base, tenant,
                                                   unparsed_config,
                                                   scheduler,
@@ -1484,10 +1484,10 @@
                     (job.project,))
                 if job.config_project:
                     config_projects_config.extend(
-                        job.project.unparsed_config)
+                        job.project.unparsed_config, tenant)
                 else:
                     untrusted_projects_config.extend(
-                        job.project.unparsed_config)
+                        job.project.unparsed_config, tenant)
                 continue
             TenantParser.log.debug("Waiting for cat job %s" % (job,))
             job.wait()
@@ -1518,17 +1518,18 @@
                     branch = source_context.branch
                     if source_context.trusted:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseConfigProjectLayout(
-                            job.files[fn], source_context)
-                        config_projects_config.extend(incdata)
+                            job.files[fn], source_context, tenant)
+                        config_projects_config.extend(incdata, tenant)
                     else:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseUntrustedProjectLayout(
-                            job.files[fn], source_context)
-                        untrusted_projects_config.extend(incdata)
-                    new_project_unparsed_config[project].extend(incdata)
+                            job.files[fn], source_context, tenant)
+                        untrusted_projects_config.extend(incdata, tenant)
+                    new_project_unparsed_config[project].extend(
+                        incdata, tenant)
                     if branch in new_project_unparsed_branch_config.get(
                             project, {}):
                         new_project_unparsed_branch_config[project][branch].\
-                            extend(incdata)
+                            extend(incdata, tenant)
         # Now that we've sucessfully loaded all of the configuration,
         # cache the unparsed data on the project objects.
         for project, data in new_project_unparsed_config.items():
@@ -1540,18 +1541,18 @@
         return config_projects_config, untrusted_projects_config
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _parseConfigProjectLayout(data, source_context):
+    def _parseConfigProjectLayout(data, source_context, tenant):
         # This is the top-level configuration for a tenant.
         config = model.UnparsedTenantConfig()
         with early_configuration_exceptions(source_context):
-            config.extend(safe_load_yaml(data, source_context))
+            config.extend(safe_load_yaml(data, source_context), tenant)
         return config
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _parseUntrustedProjectLayout(data, source_context):
+    def _parseUntrustedProjectLayout(data, source_context, tenant):
         config = model.UnparsedTenantConfig()
         with early_configuration_exceptions(source_context):
-            config.extend(safe_load_yaml(data, source_context))
+            config.extend(safe_load_yaml(data, source_context), tenant)
         if config.pipelines:
             with configuration_exceptions('pipeline', config.pipelines[0]):
                 raise PipelineNotPermittedError()
@@ -1753,7 +1754,7 @@
                 else:
                     incdata = project.unparsed_branch_config.get(branch)
                 if incdata:
-                    config.extend(incdata)
+                    config.extend(incdata, tenant)
                 continue
             # Otherwise, do not use the cached config (even if the
             # files are empty as that likely means they were deleted).
@@ -1782,12 +1783,12 @@
 
                     if trusted:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseConfigProjectLayout(
-                            data, source_context)
+                            data, source_context, tenant)
                     else:
                         incdata = TenantParser._parseUntrustedProjectLayout(
-                            data, source_context)
+                            data, source_context, tenant)
 
-                    config.extend(incdata)
+                    config.extend(incdata, tenant)
 
     def createDynamicLayout(self, tenant, files,
                             include_config_projects=False,
diff --git a/zuul/model.py b/zuul/model.py
index ae98b7d..cc2fea7 100644
--- a/zuul/model.py
+++ b/zuul/model.py
@@ -2256,7 +2256,7 @@
 
 
 class ProjectConfig(object):
-    # Represents a project cofiguration
+    # Represents a project configuration
     def __init__(self, name, source_context=None):
         self.name = name
         # If this is a template, it will have a source_context, but
@@ -2401,7 +2401,7 @@
         r.semaphores = copy.deepcopy(self.semaphores)
         return r
 
-    def extend(self, conf, tenant=None):
+    def extend(self, conf, tenant):
         if isinstance(conf, UnparsedTenantConfig):
             self.pragmas.extend(conf.pragmas)
             self.pipelines.extend(conf.pipelines)
@@ -2409,16 +2409,14 @@
             self.project_templates.extend(conf.project_templates)
             for k, v in conf.projects.items():
                 name = k
-                # If we have the tenant add the projects to
-                # the according canonical name instead of the given project
-                # name. If it is not found, it's ok to add this to the given
-                # name. We also don't need to throw the
+                # Add the projects to the according canonical name instead of
+                # the given project name. If it is not found, it's ok to add
+                # this to the given name. We also don't need to throw the
                 # ProjectNotFoundException here as semantic validation occurs
                 # later where it will fail then.
-                if tenant is not None:
-                    trusted, project = tenant.getProject(k)
-                    if project is not None:
-                        name = project.canonical_name
+                trusted, project = tenant.getProject(k)
+                if project is not None:
+                    name = project.canonical_name
                 self.projects.setdefault(name, []).extend(v)
             self.nodesets.extend(conf.nodesets)
             self.secrets.extend(conf.secrets)
@@ -2435,7 +2433,12 @@
                 raise ConfigItemMultipleKeysError()
             key, value = list(item.items())[0]
             if key == 'project':
-                name = value['name']
+                name = value.get('name')
+                if not name:
+                    # There is no name defined so implicitly add the name
+                    # of the project where it is defined.
+                    name = value['_source_context'].project.canonical_name
+                    value['name'] = name
                 self.projects.setdefault(name, []).append(value)
             elif key == 'job':
                 self.jobs.append(value)