diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetName.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetName.cs
index 3c4fbf1df..82e565c49 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetName.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetName.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+using Elsa.Extensions;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Attributes;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Models;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
@@ -12,18 +13,13 @@ namespace Elsa.Workflows.Activities;
 [PublicAPI]
 public class SetName : CodeActivity
 {
-    /// <summary>
-    /// The property key name used to store the workflow instance name.
-    /// </summary>
-    public const string WorkflowInstanceNameKey = "WorkflowInstanceName";
-
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetName([CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default) : base(source, line)
+    public SetName([CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null) : base(source, line)
     {
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetName(Input<string> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default) : this(source, line)
+    public SetName(Input<string> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null) : this(source, line)
     {
         Value = value;
     }
@@ -36,7 +32,7 @@ public class SetName : CodeActivity
     /// <inheritdoc />
     protected override void Execute(ActivityExecutionContext context)
     {
-        var value = context.Get(Value);
-        context.WorkflowExecutionContext.SetProperty(WorkflowInstanceNameKey, value!);
+        var value = Value.GetOrDefault(context);
+        context.WorkflowExecutionContext.Name = value;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Contexts/WorkflowExecutionContext.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Contexts/WorkflowExecutionContext.cs
index 345295d32..f57350d48 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Contexts/WorkflowExecutionContext.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Contexts/WorkflowExecutionContext.cs
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ public partial class WorkflowExecutionContext : IExecutionContext
         _activityExecutionContexts = new List<ActivityExecutionContext>();
         Scheduler = serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IActivitySchedulerFactory>().CreateScheduler();
         IdentityGenerator = serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IIdentityGenerator>();
-        Input = input != null ? new Dictionary<string, object>(input, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase) : new Dictionary<string, object>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
-        Properties = properties != null ? new Dictionary<string, object>(properties, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase) : new Dictionary<string, object>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Input = input != null ? new(input, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase) : new Dictionary<string, object>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Properties = properties != null ? new(properties, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase) : new Dictionary<string, object>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         ExecuteDelegate = executeDelegate;
         TriggerActivityId = triggerActivityId;
         CreatedAt = createdAt;
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ public partial class WorkflowExecutionContext : IExecutionContext
             MemoryRegister = workflowGraph.Workflow.CreateRegister()
         };
 
-        workflowExecutionContext.ExpressionExecutionContext = new ExpressionExecutionContext(serviceProvider, workflowExecutionContext.MemoryRegister, cancellationToken: cancellationToken);
+        workflowExecutionContext.ExpressionExecutionContext = new(serviceProvider, workflowExecutionContext.MemoryRegister, cancellationToken: cancellationToken);
 
         await workflowExecutionContext.SetWorkflowGraphAsync(workflowGraph);
         return workflowExecutionContext;
@@ -253,6 +253,9 @@ public partial class WorkflowExecutionContext : IExecutionContext
     /// An application-specific identifier associated with the execution context.
     public string? CorrelationId { get; set; }
 
+    /// Gets or sets the name of the workflow instance.
+    public string? Name { get; set; }
+
     /// The ID of the workflow instance that triggered this instance.
     public string? ParentWorkflowInstanceId { get; set; }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Serialization/Serializers/JsonWorkflowStateSerializer.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Serialization/Serializers/JsonWorkflowStateSerializer.cs
index d23869f4a..ad664f7e8 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Serialization/Serializers/JsonWorkflowStateSerializer.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Serialization/Serializers/JsonWorkflowStateSerializer.cs
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public class JsonWorkflowStateSerializer : ConfigurableSerializer, IWorkflowStat
     public override JsonSerializerOptions GetOptions()
     {
         var options = base.GetOptions();
-        return new JsonSerializerOptions(options)
+        return new(options)
         {
             ReferenceHandler = new CrossScopedReferenceHandler()
         };
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowRunner.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowRunner.cs
index a79842799..46ae8efdb 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowRunner.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowRunner.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     : IWorkflowRunner
 {
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(IActivity activity, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(IActivity activity, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         var workflow = Workflow.FromActivity(activity);
         var workflowGraph = await workflowGraphBuilder.BuildAsync(workflow, cancellationToken);
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(IWorkflow workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(IWorkflow workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         var builder = workflowBuilderFactory.CreateBuilder();
         var workflowDefinition = await builder.BuildWorkflowAsync(workflow, cancellationToken);
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult<TResult>> RunAsync<TResult>(WorkflowBase<TResult> workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult<TResult>> RunAsync<TResult>(WorkflowBase<TResult> workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         var result = await RunAsync((IWorkflow)workflow, options, cancellationToken);
         return new(result.WorkflowState, result.Workflow, (TResult)result.Result!);
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync<T>(RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) where T : IWorkflow, new()
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync<T>(RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) where T : IWorkflow, new()
     {
         var builder = workflowBuilderFactory.CreateBuilder();
         var workflowDefinition = await builder.BuildWorkflowAsync<T>(cancellationToken);
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<TResult> RunAsync<T, TResult>(RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) where T : WorkflowBase<TResult>, new()
+    public async Task<TResult> RunAsync<T, TResult>(RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) where T : WorkflowBase<TResult>, new()
     {
         var builder = workflowBuilderFactory.CreateBuilder();
         var workflow = await builder.BuildWorkflowAsync<T>(cancellationToken);
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(WorkflowGraph workflowGraph, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(WorkflowGraph workflowGraph, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         // Set up a workflow execution context.
         var instanceId = options?.WorkflowInstanceId ?? identityGenerator.GenerateId();
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
             parentWorkflowInstanceId,
             input,
             properties,
-            default,
+            null,
             triggerActivityId,
             cancellationToken);
 
@@ -93,21 +93,21 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(Workflow workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(Workflow workflow, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         var workflowGraph = await workflowGraphBuilder.BuildAsync(workflow, cancellationToken);
         return await RunAsync(workflowGraph, options, cancellationToken);
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(Workflow workflow, WorkflowState workflowState, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(Workflow workflow, WorkflowState workflowState, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         var workflowGraph = await workflowGraphBuilder.BuildAsync(workflow, cancellationToken);
         return await RunAsync(workflowGraph, workflowState, options, cancellationToken);
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(WorkflowGraph workflowGraph, WorkflowState workflowState, RunWorkflowOptions? options = default, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public async Task<RunWorkflowResult> RunAsync(WorkflowGraph workflowGraph, WorkflowState workflowState, RunWorkflowOptions? options = null, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         // Create a workflow execution context.
         var input = options?.Input;
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ public class WorkflowRunner(
             parentWorkflowInstanceId,
             input,
             properties,
-            default,
+            null,
             triggerActivityId,
             cancellationToken);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowStateExtractor.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowStateExtractor.cs
index 99a11a214..e63e1c92c 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowStateExtractor.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/WorkflowStateExtractor.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ public class WorkflowStateExtractor : IWorkflowStateExtractor
             DefinitionVersionId = workflowExecutionContext.Workflow.Identity.Id,
             DefinitionVersion = workflowExecutionContext.Workflow.Identity.Version,
             CorrelationId = workflowExecutionContext.CorrelationId,
+            Name = workflowExecutionContext.Name,
             ParentWorkflowInstanceId = workflowExecutionContext.ParentWorkflowInstanceId,
             Status = workflowExecutionContext.Status,
             SubStatus = workflowExecutionContext.SubStatus,
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ public class WorkflowStateExtractor : IWorkflowStateExtractor
     {
         workflowExecutionContext.Id = state.Id;
         workflowExecutionContext.CorrelationId = state.CorrelationId;
+        workflowExecutionContext.Name = state.Name;
         workflowExecutionContext.ParentWorkflowInstanceId = state.ParentWorkflowInstanceId;
         workflowExecutionContext.SubStatus = state.SubStatus;
         workflowExecutionContext.Bookmarks = state.Bookmarks;
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/State/WorkflowState.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/State/WorkflowState.cs
index 8bc2cd1a0..43887b16b 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/State/WorkflowState.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/State/WorkflowState.cs
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ public class WorkflowState
     /// <summary>
     /// Gets or sets the ID.
     /// </summary>
-    public string Id { get; set; } = default!;
+    public string Id { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The workflow definition ID.
     /// </summary>
-    public string DefinitionId { get; set; } = default!;
+    public string DefinitionId { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The workflow definition version ID.
     /// </summary>
-    public string DefinitionVersionId { get; set; } = default!;
+    public string DefinitionVersionId { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The workflow definition version.
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ public class WorkflowState
     /// The correlation ID of the workflow, if any.
     /// </summary>
     public string? CorrelationId { get; set; }
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the name of the workflow instance.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? Name { get; set; }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The status of the workflow.
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Mappers/WorkflowStateMapper.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Mappers/WorkflowStateMapper.cs
index 30af5ac0c..c909073db 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Mappers/WorkflowStateMapper.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Mappers/WorkflowStateMapper.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-using Elsa.Extensions;
-using Elsa.Workflows.Activities;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Management.Entities;
 using Elsa.Workflows.State;
 
@@ -16,14 +14,14 @@ public class WorkflowStateMapper
     public WorkflowInstance? Map(WorkflowState? source)
     {
         if (source == null)
-            return default;
+            return null;
 
         var workflowInstance = new WorkflowInstance();
         Apply(source, workflowInstance);
 
         return workflowInstance;
     }
-    
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Maps a workflow state to a workflow instance.
     /// </summary>
@@ -38,14 +36,12 @@ public class WorkflowStateMapper
         target.Status = source.Status;
         target.SubStatus = source.SubStatus;
         target.CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId;
+        target.Name = source.Name;
         target.IncidentCount = source.Incidents.Count;
         target.IsSystem = source.IsSystem;
         target.UpdatedAt = source.UpdatedAt;
         target.FinishedAt = source.FinishedAt;
         target.WorkflowState = source;
-        
-        if (source.Properties.TryGetValue<string>(SetName.WorkflowInstanceNameKey, out var name))
-            target.Name = name;
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -54,7 +50,7 @@ public class WorkflowStateMapper
     public WorkflowState? Map(WorkflowInstance? source)
     {
         if (source == null)
-            return default;
+            return null;
 
         var workflowState = source.WorkflowState;
         workflowState.Id = source.Id;
@@ -66,13 +62,11 @@ public class WorkflowStateMapper
         workflowState.Status = source.Status;
         workflowState.SubStatus = source.SubStatus;
         workflowState.CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId;
+        workflowState.Name = source.Name;
         workflowState.UpdatedAt = source.UpdatedAt;
         workflowState.FinishedAt = source.FinishedAt;
         workflowState.IsSystem = source.IsSystem;
 
-        if (source.Name != null)
-            workflowState.Properties[SetName.WorkflowInstanceNameKey] = source.Name;
-
         return workflowState;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Options/WorkflowInstanceOptions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Options/WorkflowInstanceOptions.cs
index 9cdc133ad..76051aed2 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Options/WorkflowInstanceOptions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Options/WorkflowInstanceOptions.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ public class WorkflowInstanceOptions
     /// </summary>
     public string? CorrelationId { get; set; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The name of the workflow instance.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? Name { get; set; }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// The input to the workflow instance, if any.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Services/WorkflowInstanceFactory.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Services/WorkflowInstanceFactory.cs
index 9175158d4..aada085a6 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Services/WorkflowInstanceFactory.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Management/Services/WorkflowInstanceFactory.cs
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ public class WorkflowInstanceFactory(IIdentityGenerator identityGenerator, ISyst
     public WorkflowState CreateWorkflowState(Workflow workflow, WorkflowInstanceOptions? options = null)
     {
         var now = systemClock.UtcNow;
-        return new WorkflowState
+        return new()
         {
             Id = string.IsNullOrEmpty(options?.WorkflowInstanceId) ? identityGenerator.GenerateId() : options.WorkflowInstanceId,
             DefinitionId = workflow.Identity.DefinitionId,
             DefinitionVersionId = workflow.Identity.Id,
             DefinitionVersion = workflow.Identity.Version,
             CorrelationId = options?.CorrelationId,
+            Name = options?.Name,
             Input = options?.Input ?? new Dictionary<string, object>(),
             Properties = options?.Properties ?? new Dictionary<string, object>(),
             Status = WorkflowStatus.Running,
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ public class WorkflowInstanceFactory(IIdentityGenerator identityGenerator, ISyst
     public WorkflowInstance CreateWorkflowInstance(Workflow workflow, WorkflowInstanceOptions? options = null)
     {
         var workflowState = CreateWorkflowState(workflow, options);
-        return new WorkflowInstance
+        return new()
         {
             Id = workflowState.Id,
             ParentWorkflowInstanceId = workflowState.ParentWorkflowInstanceId,
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ public class WorkflowInstanceFactory(IIdentityGenerator identityGenerator, ISyst
             DefinitionVersionId = workflowState.DefinitionVersionId,
             Version = workflowState.DefinitionVersion,
             CorrelationId = workflowState.CorrelationId,
+            Name = workflowState.Name,
             Status = workflowState.Status,
             SubStatus = workflowState.SubStatus,
             IncidentCount = workflowState.Incidents.Count,
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
index 14caababa..b81c07960 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ public class CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper(WorkflowDefinitionHandleM
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = workflowDefinitionHandleMapper.Map(source.WorkflowDefinitionHandle),
             WorkflowInstanceId = workflowInstanceId.EmptyIfNull(),
             CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId.EmptyIfNull(),
+            Name = source.Name.EmptyIfNull(),
             ParentId = source.ParentId.EmptyIfNull(),
             Input = source.Input?.SerializeInput() ?? new ProtoInput(),
             Properties = source.Properties?.SerializeProperties() ?? new ProtoProperties(),
@@ -41,8 +42,9 @@ public class CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper(WorkflowDefinitionHandleM
         return new()
         {
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = workflowDefinitionHandleMapper.Map(source.WorkflowDefinitionHandle),
-            CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId,
-            ParentId = source.ParentId,
+            CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId.NullIfEmpty(),
+            Name = source.Name.NullIfEmpty(),
+            ParentId = source.ParentId.NullIfEmpty(),
             Input = source.Input?.DeserializeInput(),
             Properties = source.Properties?.DeserializeProperties(),
             ActivityHandle = activityHandleMapper.Map(source.ActivityHandle),
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
index 2c0358ebe..0d8ce651a 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Mappers/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public class CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper(WorkflowDefinitionHandleMapper
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = workflowDefinitionHandleMapper.Map(source.WorkflowDefinitionHandle),
             WorkflowInstanceId = workflowInstanceId,
             CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId.EmptyIfNull(),
+            Name = source.Name.EmptyIfNull(),
             ParentId = source.ParentId.EmptyIfNull(),
             Input = source.Input?.SerializeInput() ?? new ProtoInput(),
             Properties = source.Properties?.SerializeProperties() ?? new ProtoProperties()
@@ -40,8 +41,9 @@ public class CreateWorkflowInstanceRequestMapper(WorkflowDefinitionHandleMapper
         return new()
         {
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = workflowDefinitionHandleMapper.Map(source.WorkflowDefinitionHandle),
-            CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId,
-            ParentId = source.ParentId,
+            CorrelationId = source.CorrelationId.NullIfEmpty(),
+            Name = source.Name.NullIfEmpty(),
+            ParentId = source.ParentId.NullIfEmpty(),
             Input = source.Input?.DeserializeInput(),
             Properties = source.Properties?.DeserializeProperties()
         };
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Proto/WorkflowInstance.Messages.proto b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Proto/WorkflowInstance.Messages.proto
index 719572c28..bb1683fab 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Proto/WorkflowInstance.Messages.proto
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.ProtoActor/Proto/WorkflowInstance.Messages.proto
@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ message CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest{
   WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle = 1;
   string WorkflowInstanceId = 2;
   optional string CorrelationId = 3;
-  optional string ParentId = 4;
-  optional Input input = 5;
-  optional Properties properties = 6;
+  optional string Name = 4;
+  optional string ParentId = 5;
+  optional Input input = 6;
+  optional Properties properties = 7;
 }
 
 message CreateWorkflowInstanceResponse{
@@ -71,11 +72,12 @@ message CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest{
   WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle = 1;
   string WorkflowInstanceId = 2;
   optional string CorrelationId = 3;
-  optional string ParentId = 4;
-  optional Input input = 5;
-  optional Properties properties = 6;
-  optional ActivityHandle ActivityHandle = 7;
-  optional string TriggerActivityId = 8;
+  optional string Name = 4;
+  optional string ParentId = 5;
+  optional Input input = 6;
+  optional Properties properties = 7;
+  optional ActivityHandle ActivityHandle = 8;
+  optional string TriggerActivityId = 9;
 }
 
 message ExportWorkflowStateResponse {
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
index 07c812077..69901ec03 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
@@ -12,12 +12,17 @@ public class CreateAndRunWorkflowInstanceRequest
     /// <summary>
     /// The ID of the workflow definition version to create an instance of.
     /// </summary>
-    public WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle { get; set; } = default!;
+    public WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The correlation ID of the workflow, if any.
     /// </summary>
     public string? CorrelationId { get; set; }
+    
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The name of the workflow instance to be created.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? Name { get; set; }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The input to the workflow instance, if any.
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
index ab55c3891..8cebf9d6f 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Messages/CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest.cs
@@ -12,13 +12,18 @@ public class CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest
     /// <summary>
     /// The ID of the workflow definition version to create an instance of.
     /// </summary>
-    public WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle { get; set; } = default!;
+    public WorkflowDefinitionHandle WorkflowDefinitionHandle { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The correlation ID of the workflow, if any.
     /// </summary>
     public string? CorrelationId { get; set; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The name of the workflow instance to be created.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? Name { get; set; }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// The input to the workflow instance, if any.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/LocalWorkflowClient.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/LocalWorkflowClient.cs
index 8497c99dc..358849bb7 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/LocalWorkflowClient.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/LocalWorkflowClient.cs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public class LocalWorkflowClient(
         {
             WorkflowInstanceId = WorkflowInstanceId,
             CorrelationId = request.CorrelationId,
+            Name = request.Name,
             ParentWorkflowInstanceId = request.ParentId,
             Input = request.Input,
             Properties = request.Properties
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ public class LocalWorkflowClient(
         {
             Properties = request.Properties,
             CorrelationId = request.CorrelationId,
+            Name = request.Name,
             Input = request.Input,
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = request.WorkflowDefinitionHandle,
             ParentId = request.ParentId
@@ -148,6 +150,7 @@ public class LocalWorkflowClient(
         {
             WorkflowInstanceId = WorkflowInstanceId,
             CorrelationId = request.CorrelationId,
+            Name = request.Name,
             ParentWorkflowInstanceId = request.ParentId,
             Input = request.Input,
             Properties = request.Properties
diff --git a/test/integration/Elsa.Activities.IntegrationTests/SetNameTests.cs b/test/integration/Elsa.Activities.IntegrationTests/SetNameTests.cs
index 3524b588d..91de62ddd 100644
--- a/test/integration/Elsa.Activities.IntegrationTests/SetNameTests.cs
+++ b/test/integration/Elsa.Activities.IntegrationTests/SetNameTests.cs
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ public class SetNameTests
         _serviceProvider = new TestApplicationBuilder(testOutputHelper).WithCapturingTextWriter(_capturingTextWriter).Build();
     }
     
-    [Fact(DisplayName = "WriteLine prints the expected line to the console.")]
+    [Fact(DisplayName = "SetName sets the workflow instance name.")]
     public async Task Test1()
     {
         const string expectedName = "Foo";
         var setName = new SetName(new Input<string>(expectedName));
         var result = await _serviceProvider.RunActivityAsync(setName);
-        var actualName = result.WorkflowState.Properties[SetName.WorkflowInstanceNameKey];
+        var actualName = result.WorkflowState.Name;
         Assert.Equal(expectedName, actualName);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowCancellation/DefaultRuntimeTests.cs b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowCancellation/DefaultRuntimeTests.cs
index 2cad71e66..704efe89c 100644
--- a/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowCancellation/DefaultRuntimeTests.cs
+++ b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowCancellation/DefaultRuntimeTests.cs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public class DefaultRuntimeTests
 
         const string workflowDefinitionId = nameof(SimpleSuspendedWorkflow);
         var workflowClient = await _workflowRuntime.CreateClientAsync();
-        await workflowClient.CreateInstanceAsync(new CreateWorkflowInstanceRequest
+        await workflowClient.CreateInstanceAsync(new()
         {
             WorkflowDefinitionHandle = WorkflowDefinitionHandle.ByDefinitionId(workflowDefinitionId, VersionOptions.Published)
         });
diff --git a/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/WorkflowInstanceNameTests.cs b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/WorkflowInstanceNameTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7ebfb427
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/WorkflowInstanceNameTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+using Elsa.Common.Models;
+using Elsa.Testing.Shared;
+using Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests.Scenarios.WorkflowInstanceName.Workflows;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Models;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Runtime;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.Messages;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using Xunit.Abstractions;
+
+namespace Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests.Scenarios.WorkflowInstanceName;
+
+public class WorkflowInstanceNameTests
+{
+    private readonly IServiceProvider _services;
+    private readonly CapturingTextWriter _capturingTextWriter = new();
+    private readonly IWorkflowRuntime _workflowRuntime;
+
+    public WorkflowInstanceNameTests(ITestOutputHelper testOutputHelper)
+    {
+        _services = new TestApplicationBuilder(testOutputHelper)
+            .WithCapturingTextWriter(_capturingTextWriter)
+            .AddWorkflow<NamedWorkflow>()
+            .Build();
+
+        _workflowRuntime = _services.GetRequiredService<IWorkflowRuntime>();
+    }
+
+    [Fact(DisplayName = "Setting a workflow instance name keeps the workflow instance name when the workflow is executed")]
+    public async Task SuspendedCancelTest()
+    {
+        await _services.PopulateRegistriesAsync();
+        const string workflowDefinitionId = nameof(NamedWorkflow);
+        var desiredName = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
+        var workflowClient = await _workflowRuntime.CreateClientAsync();
+        await workflowClient.CreateInstanceAsync(new()
+        {
+            Name = desiredName,
+            WorkflowDefinitionHandle = WorkflowDefinitionHandle.ByDefinitionId(workflowDefinitionId, VersionOptions.Published)
+        });
+        await workflowClient.RunInstanceAsync(RunWorkflowInstanceRequest.Empty);
+        var workflowState = await workflowClient.ExportStateAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal([desiredName], _capturingTextWriter.Lines);
+        Assert.Equal(desiredName, workflowState.Name);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/Workflows/NamedWorkflow.cs b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/Workflows/NamedWorkflow.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..62a2aaff8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests/Scenarios/WorkflowInstanceName/Workflows/NamedWorkflow.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using Elsa.Extensions;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Activities;
+
+namespace Elsa.Workflows.IntegrationTests.Scenarios.WorkflowInstanceName.Workflows;
+
+public class NamedWorkflow : WorkflowBase
+{
+    protected override void Build(IWorkflowBuilder builder)
+    {
+        builder.Root = new WriteLine(x => x.GetWorkflowExecutionContext().Name);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file