diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 5660e474b018..35723b844c2a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -4535,7 +4535,7 @@ def scatter(self, x, y, s=None, c=None, marker=None, cmap=None, norm=None,
 
         return collection
 
-    @_preprocess_data(replace_names=["x", "y"], label_namer="y")
+    @_preprocess_data(replace_names=["x", "y", "C"], label_namer="y")
     @docstring.dedent_interpd
     def hexbin(self, x, y, C=None, gridsize=100, bins=None,
                xscale='linear', yscale='linear', extent=None,