diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 09ccd4db6..aafa5f37e 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ opts.AddVariables(
     ('PATH', 'A custom path (or multiple paths divided by ":") to append to the $PATH env to prioritize usage of command line programs (if multiple are present on the system)', ''),
     ('PATH_REMOVE', 'A path prefix to exclude from all known command and compile paths (create multiple excludes separated by :)', ''),
     ('PATH_REPLACE', 'Two path prefixes (divided with a :) to search/replace from all known command and compile paths', ''),
+    ('MAPNIK_NAME', 'Name of library', 'mapnik'),
 
     # Boost variables
     # default is '/usr/include', see FindBoost method below
@@ -1152,9 +1153,9 @@ if not preconfigured:
         env['MAPNIK_FONTS_DEST'] = os.path.join(env['MAPNIK_LIB_DIR_DEST'],'fonts')
 
     if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
-       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${LIBPREFIX}mapnik${LIBSUFFIX}'
+       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${LIBPREFIX}${MAPNIK_NAME}${LIBSUFFIX}'
     else:
-       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik${SHLIBSUFFIX}'
+       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${SHLIBPREFIX}${MAPNIK_NAME}${SHLIBSUFFIX}'
 
     if env['PKG_CONFIG_PATH']:
         env['ENV']['PKG_CONFIG_PATH'] = os.path.realpath(env['PKG_CONFIG_PATH'])
diff --git a/benchmark/build.py b/benchmark/build.py
index ca2eb7f30..e39d4d3ea 100644
--- a/benchmark/build.py
+++ b/benchmark/build.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Import ('env')
 test_env = env.Clone()
 
 test_env['LIBS'] = copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS'])
-test_env.AppendUnique(LIBS='mapnik')
+test_env.AppendUnique(LIBS=env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 test_env.AppendUnique(CXXFLAGS='-g')
 if 'g++' in env['CXX']:
     test_env.Append(CXXFLAGS='-fPIC')
diff --git a/bin/build.py b/bin/build.py
index 5c0492b44..26e28c2d7 100644
--- a/bin/build.py
+++ b/bin/build.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ configuration = {
     "git_describe": git_describe,
     "version_string": config_env['MAPNIK_VERSION_STRING'],
     "version": config_env['MAPNIK_VERSION'],
-    "mapnik_libname": 'mapnik',
+    "mapnik_libname": env['MAPNIK_NAME'],
     "mapnik_libpath": lib_path,
     "ldflags": ldflags,
     "dep_libs": dep_libs,
diff --git a/bindings/python/build.py b/bindings/python/build.py
index 5544fd5ab..9696a312c 100644
--- a/bindings/python/build.py
+++ b/bindings/python/build.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def is_py3():
 
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
-target_path = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik')
+target_path = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 target_path_deprecated = os.path.normpath(env['PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION'] + os.path.sep + 'mapnik2')
 
 py_env = env.Clone()
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ py_env.Append(CPPPATH = env['PYTHON_INCLUDES'])
 
 py_env.Append(CPPDEFINES = env['LIBMAPNIK_DEFINES'])
 
-py_env['LIBS'] = ['mapnik',env['BOOST_PYTHON_LIB']]
+py_env['LIBS'] = [env['MAPNIK_NAME'],env['BOOST_PYTHON_LIB']]
 
 link_all_libs = env['LINKING'] == 'static' or env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static' or (env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin' and not env['PYTHON_DYNAMIC_LOOKUP'])
 
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ else:
 
 paths += "__all__ = [mapniklibpath,inputpluginspath,fontscollectionpath]\n"
 
-if not os.path.exists('mapnik'):
-    os.mkdir('mapnik')
+if not os.path.exists(env['MAPNIK_NAME']):
+    os.mkdir(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
 file('mapnik/paths.py','w').write(paths % (env['MAPNIK_LIB_DIR']))
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
index fea4590ed..6ad1f4838 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ def PostGIS(**keywords):
       cursor_size -- integer size of binary cursor to use (default: 0, no binary cursor is used)
 
     >>> from mapnik import PostGIS, Layer
-    >>> params = dict(dbname='mapnik',table='osm',user='postgres',password='gis')
+    >>> params = dict(dbname=env['MAPNIK_NAME'],table='osm',user='postgres',password='gis')
     >>> params['estimate_extent'] = False
     >>> params['extent'] = '-20037508,-19929239,20037508,19929239'
     >>> postgis = PostGIS(**params)
diff --git a/demo/c++/build.py b/demo/c++/build.py
index cfa4ec38e..7eb878f0b 100644
--- a/demo/c++/build.py
+++ b/demo/c++/build.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ if env['HAS_CAIRO']:
     demo_env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=env['CAIRO_CPPPATHS'])
     demo_env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
 
-libraries = ['mapnik']
+libraries = [env['MAPNIK_NAME']]
 libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
 rundemo = demo_env.Program('rundemo', source, LIBS=libraries)
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/build.py b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
index 802ae9d1d..6b1aa1392 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
index d14162cd0..506385a99 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
 libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.insert(0,'mapnik')
+    libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
     libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/build.py b/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
index 0a70c55a8..8e818f4bd 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 #    libraries.append('boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/occi/build.py b/plugins/input/occi/build.py
index 0c8bbb6da..2797345d7 100644
--- a/plugins/input/occi/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/occi/build.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
index c68c5bf61..9c4101bc2 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 plugin_env.Append(CXXFLAGS=cxxflags)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.insert(0,'mapnik')
+    libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
     libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/build.py b/plugins/input/osm/build.py
index d82e8e1d5..62402f6f4 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/build.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
index b9251cd83..676fbf29c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ else:
 libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.insert(0,'mapnik')
+    libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
     libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.append('boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
diff --git a/plugins/input/python/build.py b/plugins/input/python/build.py
index dd330cbdf..e5d20ec5b 100644
--- a/plugins/input/python/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/python/build.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ else:
 plugin_env.Append(LINKFLAGS=python_link_flag)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
                                       SHLIBSUFFIX='.input',
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/build.py b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
index 7ea45617f..20f65b2d2 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py b/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
index 3bd399551..4b463831b 100644
--- a/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/build.py b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
index a93684832..4ef33687a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ plugin_env.Append(CXXFLAGS=cxxflags)
 plugin_env.Append(CPPDEFINES=cppdefines)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../shape',
                                       SHLIBSUFFIX='.input',
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
index 8cbe7a6f5..3136dcae7 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ if env['SQLITE_LINKFLAGS']:
     plugin_env.Append(LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                        SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/build.py b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/build.py
index 948a6d956..a36aa1ddb 100644
--- a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/build.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
     install_dest = env['MAPNIK_INPUT_PLUGINS_DEST']
 
     # only link mapnik if we are build an external shared object
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary(
                   # the name of the target to build, eg 'sqlite.input'
diff --git a/plugins/input/topojson/build.py b/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
index 2a349d92f..dc34465fb 100644
--- a/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 #    libraries.append('boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('mapnik')
+    libraries.append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 
     TARGET = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../%s' % PLUGIN_NAME,
                                       SHLIBPREFIX='',
diff --git a/src/build.py b/src/build.py
index db71e002d..2b8f10012 100644
--- a/src/build.py
+++ b/src/build.py
@@ -391,9 +391,9 @@ if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin' or not env['ENABLE_SONAME']:
     target_path = env['MAPNIK_LIB_BASE_DEST']
     if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
         if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
-            mapnik = lib_env_final.StaticLibrary('mapnik', source)
+            mapnik = lib_env_final.StaticLibrary(env['MAPNIK_NAME'], source)
         else:
-            mapnik = lib_env_final.SharedLibrary('mapnik', source)
+            mapnik = lib_env_final.SharedLibrary(env['MAPNIK_NAME'], source)
         result = env.Install(target_path, mapnik)
         env.Alias(target='install', source=result)
 
@@ -415,9 +415,9 @@ else:
 
     if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
         if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
-            mapnik = lib_env_final.StaticLibrary('mapnik', source)
+            mapnik = lib_env_final.StaticLibrary(env['MAPNIK_NAME'], source)
         else:
-            mapnik = lib_env_final.SharedLibrary('mapnik', source)
+            mapnik = lib_env_final.SharedLibrary(env['MAPNIK_NAME'], source)
         result = env.InstallAs(target=target, source=mapnik)
         env.Alias(target='install', source=result)
         if result:
diff --git a/tests/cpp_tests/build.py b/tests/cpp_tests/build.py
index 1e028836f..731123028 100644
--- a/tests/cpp_tests/build.py
+++ b/tests/cpp_tests/build.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if not env['CPP_TESTS']:
     for cpp_test_bin in glob.glob('*-bin'):
         os.unlink(cpp_test_bin)
 else:
-    test_env['LIBS'] = ['mapnik']
+    test_env['LIBS'] = [env['MAPNIK_NAME']]
     test_env.AppendUnique(LIBS=copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
     if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static' and env['PLATFORM'] == 'Linux':
         test_env.AppendUnique(LIBS='dl')
diff --git a/tests/cpp_tests/svg_renderer_tests/build.py b/tests/cpp_tests/svg_renderer_tests/build.py
index 73002fc8d..988880b17 100644
--- a/tests/cpp_tests/svg_renderer_tests/build.py
+++ b/tests/cpp_tests/svg_renderer_tests/build.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from copy import copy
 
 Import ('env')
 
-libraries = ['mapnik']
+libraries = [env['MAPNIK_NAME']]
 libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
 
 for cpp_test in glob.glob('*_test.cpp'):
diff --git a/utils/nik2img/build.py b/utils/nik2img/build.py
index 304cc9be8..244edbef3 100644
--- a/utils/nik2img/build.py
+++ b/utils/nik2img/build.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if env['HAS_CAIRO']:
     program_env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
 
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries = ['mapnik',boost_program_options]
+libraries = [env['MAPNIK_NAME'],boost_program_options]
 libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
 if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static' and env['PLATFORM'] == 'Linux':
     libraries.append('dl')
diff --git a/utils/ogrindex/build.py b/utils/ogrindex/build.py
index 2ef55dd6b..4e115f9df 100644
--- a/utils/ogrindex/build.py
+++ b/utils/ogrindex/build.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ headers = ['#plugins/input/ogr'] + env['CPPPATH']
 program_env['LIBS'] = [env['PLUGINS']['ogr']['lib']]
 
 # Link Library to Dependencies
-program_env['LIBS'].append('mapnik')
+program_env['LIBS'].append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 program_env['LIBS'].append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 program_env['LIBS'].append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 program_env['LIBS'].append('boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
diff --git a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
index caaf7ebbc..1e680b820 100644
--- a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
+++ b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ program_env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=['#plugins/input/postgis'])
 
 libraries = []
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries.extend([boost_program_options,'sqlite3','pq','mapnik','icuuc'])
+libraries.extend([boost_program_options,'sqlite3','pq',env['MAPNIK_NAME'],'icuuc'])
 
 if env.get('BOOST_LIB_VERSION_FROM_HEADER'):
     boost_version_from_header = int(env['BOOST_LIB_VERSION_FROM_HEADER'].split('_')[1])
diff --git a/utils/shapeindex/build.py b/utils/shapeindex/build.py
index ef7fed613..812091797 100644
--- a/utils/shapeindex/build.py
+++ b/utils/shapeindex/build.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ headers = ['#plugins/input/shape'] + env['CPPPATH']
 
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
 boost_system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries =  ['mapnik', boost_program_options, boost_system]
+libraries =  [env['MAPNIK_NAME'], boost_program_options, boost_system]
 if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
     libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
     if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Linux':
diff --git a/utils/svg2png/build.py b/utils/svg2png/build.py
index e8a9270ea..71725ff3a 100644
--- a/utils/svg2png/build.py
+++ b/utils/svg2png/build.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ if env['HAS_CAIRO']:
     program_env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
 
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries = ['mapnik',boost_program_options]
+libraries = [env['MAPNIK_NAME'],boost_program_options]
 libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))
 if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static' and env['PLATFORM'] == 'Linux':
     libraries.append('dl')