diff --git a/lib/diffo/provider/components/base_instance.ex b/lib/diffo/provider/components/base_instance.ex
index af3473d..11a911f 100644
--- a/lib/diffo/provider/components/base_instance.ex
+++ b/lib/diffo/provider/components/base_instance.ex
@@ -457,6 +457,13 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.BaseInstance do
     define :read
   end
 
+  identities do
+    identity :unique_name_per_type, [:name] do
+      message "instance name must be unique"
+      pre_check? true
+    end
+  end
+
   preparations do
     prepare build(
               load: [
diff --git a/test/provider/instance_test.exs b/test/provider/instance_test.exs
index ec4777b..e70bf6e 100644
--- a/test/provider/instance_test.exs
+++ b/test/provider/instance_test.exs
@@ -147,8 +147,50 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.InstanceTest do
     #  assert loaded_instance.specified_instance.type == :resource
     # end
 
+    test "create named service instances - success - no names" do
+      specification =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_specification!(%{
+          name: "fibreAccess",
+          description: "Fibre Access Service",
+          category: "connectivity"
+        })
+
+      {:ok, _result} = Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{specified_by: specification.id})
+      {:ok, _result} = Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{specified_by: specification.id})
+    end
+
+    test "create named service instances - success - different names" do
+      specification =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_specification!(%{
+          name: "fibreAccess",
+          description: "Fibre Access Service",
+          category: "connectivity"
+        })
+
+      {:ok, _result} =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{name: "fibreAccess 1", specified_by: specification.id})
+
+      {:ok, _result} =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{name: "fibreAccess 2", specified_by: specification.id})
+    end
+
+    test "create named service instances - failure - duplicate names" do
+      specification =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_specification!(%{
+          name: "fibreAccess",
+          description: "Fibre Access Service",
+          category: "connectivity"
+        })
+
+      {:ok, _result} =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{name: "fibreAccess 1", specified_by: specification.id})
+
+      {:error, _message} =
+        Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{name: "fibreAccess 1", specified_by: specification.id})
+    end
+
     test "create a service instance - failure - specification_id invalid" do
-      {:error, _specification} = Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{specified_by: UUID.uuid4()})
+      {:error, _message} = Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{specified_by: UUID.uuid4()})
     end
 
     test "create a service instance - failure - type not correct" do
@@ -159,7 +201,7 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.InstanceTest do
           category: "connectivity"
         })
 
-      {:error, _specification} =
+      {:error, _} =
         Diffo.Provider.create_instance(%{
           specified_by: specification.id,
           type: :serviceSpecification