diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/place.py b/gramps/gen/lib/place.py
index 1bd9fd750..36ea6d02f 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/place.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/place.py
@@ -472,6 +472,35 @@ class Place(CitationBase, NoteBase, MediaBase, UrlBase, PrimaryObject):
                 if placeref.ref == old_handle:
                     placeref.ref = new_handle
 
+    def get_alternative_names(self):
+        """
+        Return a list of alternative names for the current Place.
+
+        :returns: Returns the alternative names for the Place
+        :rtype: list of strings
+        """
+        return self.alt_names
+
+    def set_alternative_names(self, name_list):
+        """
+        Replace the current alternative names list with the new one.
+
+        :param name_list: The list of names to assign to the Place's internal
+                          list.
+        :type name_list: list of strings
+        """
+        self.alt_names = name_list
+
+    def add_alternative_name(self, name):
+        """
+        Add a name to the alternative names list.
+
+        :param name: name to add
+        :type name: string
+        """
+        if name not in self.alt_names:
+            self.alt_names.append(name)
+
     def get_alternate_locations(self):
         """
         Return a list of alternate :class:`~.location.Location` objects the
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/export/exportxml.py b/gramps/plugins/export/exportxml.py
index fa06a69f4..b592daf88 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/export/exportxml.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/export/exportxml.py
@@ -1200,7 +1200,9 @@ class GrampsXmlWriter(UpdateCallback):
         self.write_line_nofix("pname", name, index+1)
         self.write_line_nofix("type", ptype, index+1)
         self.write_line_nofix("code", code, index+1)
-    
+        for name in place.get_alternative_names():
+            self.write_line("alt_name", name, index+1)
+
         longitude = self.fix(place.get_longitude())
         lat = self.fix(place.get_latitude())
         if longitude or lat:
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py b/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
index 1a9cec365..e02f79dd5 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
@@ -626,6 +626,7 @@ class GrampsParser(UpdateCallback):
             #other
             "address": (self.start_address, self.stop_address), 
             "addresses": (None, None), 
+            "alt_name": (None, self.stop_alt_name),
             "childlist": (None, None),  
             "attribute": (self.start_attribute, self.stop_attribute), 
             "attr_type": (None, self.stop_attr_type), 
@@ -2583,6 +2584,9 @@ class GrampsParser(UpdateCallback):
     def stop_code(self, tag):
         self.placeobj.code = tag
 
+    def stop_alt_name(self, tag):
+        self.placeobj.add_alternative_name(tag)
+
     def stop_placeobj(self, *tag):
         self.db.commit_place(self.placeobj, self.trans, 
                              self.placeobj.get_change_time())