diff --git a/lib/mongodoc/base.rb b/lib/mongodoc/base.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/mongodoc/base.rb
+++ b/lib/mongodoc/base.rb
@@ -21,10 +21,14 @@ module MongoDoc
         instance_variable_set("@#{name}", value)
       end
     end
-    
+
+    def self.collection_name
+      self.to_s.tableize.gsub('/', '.')
+    end
+
     def self.collection
-      MongoDoc.database.collection(self.to_s.tableize.gsub('/', '.'))
+      MongoDoc.database.collection(collection_name)
     end
-    
+
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/base_spec.rb b/spec/base_spec.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/spec/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/base_spec.rb
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ describe "MongoDoc::Base" do
       end
     end
   end
-  
+
+  it ".collection_name returns the name of the collection for this class" do
+    Address.collection_name.should == Address.to_s.tableize.gsub('/', '.')
+  end
+
   it ".collection calls through MongoDoc.database using the class name" do
     db = stub('db')
     db.should_receive(:collection).with(MongoDoc::Base.to_s.tableize.gsub('/', '.'))
MongoDoc::Base.collection_name