diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 6a2a98ac0253..aa13b4bc98f9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2092,6 +2092,14 @@ def get_default_filetype(self):
         """
         return rcParams['savefig.format']
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        """
+        Get the title text of the window containing the figure.
+        Return None if there is no window (eg, a PS backend).
+        """
+        if hasattr(self, "manager"):
+            return self.manager.get_window_title()
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         """
         Set the title text of the window containing the figure.  Note that
@@ -2100,6 +2108,15 @@ def set_window_title(self, title):
         if hasattr(self, "manager"):
             self.manager.set_window_title(title)
 
+    def get_default_filename(self):
+        """
+        Return a string, which includes extension, suitable for use as
+        a default filename.
+        """
+        default_filename = self.get_window_title() or 'image'
+        default_filename = default_filename.lower().replace(' ', '_')
+        return default_filename + '.' + self.get_default_filetype()
+
     def switch_backends(self, FigureCanvasClass):
         """
         Instantiate an instance of FigureCanvasClass
@@ -2413,10 +2430,17 @@ def show_popup(self, msg):
         """
         pass
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        """
+        Get the title text of the window containing the figure.
+        Return None for non-GUI backends (eg, a PS backend).
+        """
+        return 'image'
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         """
         Set the title text of the window containing the figure.  Note that
-        this has no effect if there is no window (eg, a PS backend).
+        this has no effect for non-GUI backends (eg, a PS backend).
         """
         pass
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index 4ca9ca7deb48..b7199890225a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, num):
         FigureManagerBase.__init__(self, canvas, num)
 
         self.window = gtk.Window()
-        self.window.set_title("Figure %d" % num)
+        self.set_window_title("Figure %d" % num)
         if (window_icon):
             try:
                 self.window.set_icon_from_file(window_icon)
@@ -620,6 +620,9 @@ def _get_toolbar(self, canvas):
             toolbar = None
         return toolbar
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return self.window.get_title()
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.set_title(title)
 
@@ -725,11 +728,13 @@ def _init_toolbar2_4(self):
         self.show_all()
 
     def get_filechooser(self):
-        return FileChooserDialog(
+        fc = FileChooserDialog(
             title='Save the figure',
             parent=self.win,
             filetypes=self.canvas.get_supported_filetypes(),
             default_filetype=self.canvas.get_default_filetype())
+        fc.set_current_name(self.canvas.get_default_filename())
+        return fc
 
     def save_figure(self, *args):
         fname, format = self.get_filechooser().get_filename_from_user()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 0c5dd99aaf0a..56ff935e7a29 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, num):
         FigureManagerBase.__init__(self, canvas, num)
 
         self.window = Gtk.Window()
-        self.window.set_title("Figure %d" % num)
+        self.set_window_title("Figure %d" % num)
         if (window_icon):
             try:
                 self.window.set_icon_from_file(window_icon)
@@ -447,6 +447,9 @@ def _get_toolbar(self, canvas):
             toolbar = None
         return toolbar
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return self.window.get_title()
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.set_title(title)
 
@@ -532,11 +535,13 @@ def _init_toolbar(self):
         self.show_all()
 
     def get_filechooser(self):
-        return FileChooserDialog(
+        fc = FileChooserDialog(
             title='Save the figure',
             parent=self.win,
             filetypes=self.canvas.get_supported_filetypes(),
             default_filetype=self.canvas.get_default_filetype())
+        fc.set_current_name(self.canvas.get_default_filename())
+        return fc
 
     def save_figure(self, *args):
         fname, format = self.get_filechooser().get_filename_from_user()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index cfa31d15653c..b06bab2c90d3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -444,7 +444,8 @@ def zoomy(self, direction):
         self.canvas.invalidate()
 
     def save_figure(self, *args):
-        filename = _macosx.choose_save_file('Save the figure')
+        filename = _macosx.choose_save_file('Save the figure',
+                                            self.canvas.get_default_filename())
         if filename is None: # Cancel
             return
         self.canvas.print_figure(filename)
@@ -469,7 +470,8 @@ def set_cursor(self, cursor):
         _macosx.set_cursor(cursor)
 
     def save_figure(self, *args):
-        filename = _macosx.choose_save_file('Save the figure')
+        filename = _macosx.choose_save_file('Save the figure',
+                                            self.canvas.get_default_filename())
         if filename is None: # Cancel
             return
         self.canvas.print_figure(filename)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 285523fdf6d6..6acca884e6a0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ def __init__( self, canvas, num ):
         # Give the keyboard focus to the figure instead of the manager
         self.canvas.setFocusPolicy( qt.QWidget.ClickFocus )
         self.canvas.setFocus()
-        self.window.setCaption( "Figure %d" % num )
+        self.set_window_title( "Figure %d" % num )
 
         self.window._destroying = False
 
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ def destroy( self, *args ):
         if DEBUG: print("destroy figure manager")
         self.window.close(True)
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return str(self.window.caption())
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.setCaption(title)
 
@@ -420,7 +423,7 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
         sorted_filetypes.sort()
         default_filetype = self.canvas.get_default_filetype()
 
-        start = "image." + default_filetype
+        start = self.canvas.get_default_filename()
         filters = []
         selectedFilter = None
         for name, exts in sorted_filetypes:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 08ac77b253d3..4adc609a8cc0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -481,6 +481,9 @@ def destroy( self, *args ):
         if DEBUG: print("destroy figure manager")
         self.window.close()
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return str(self.window.windowTitle())
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.setWindowTitle(title)
 
@@ -615,7 +618,7 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
         sorted_filetypes.sort()
         default_filetype = self.canvas.get_default_filetype()
 
-        start = "image." + default_filetype
+        start = self.canvas.get_default_filename()
         filters = []
         selectedFilter = None
         for name, exts in sorted_filetypes:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 254d3e275f68..2ac741896bf3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, num, window):
         FigureManagerBase.__init__(self, canvas, num)
         self.window = window
         self.window.withdraw()
-        self.window.wm_title("Figure %d" % num)
+        self.set_window_title("Figure %d" % num)
         self.canvas = canvas
         self._num =  num
         _, _, w, h = canvas.figure.bbox.bounds
@@ -565,6 +565,9 @@ def destroy(self, *args):
                 self.window.quit()
         self.window = None
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return self.window.wm_title()
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.wm_title(title)
 
@@ -874,7 +877,8 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
             master=self.window,
             title='Save the figure',
             filetypes = tk_filetypes,
-            defaultextension = defaultextension
+            defaultextension = defaultextension,
+            initialfile=self.canvas.get_default_filename(),
             )
 
         if fname == "" or fname == ():
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index 4f942b931c69..bca5066819d8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -1603,6 +1603,9 @@ def destroy(self, *args):
         #wx.GetApp().ProcessIdle()
         wx.WakeUpIdle()
 
+    def get_window_title(self):
+        return self.window.GetTitle()
+
     def set_window_title(self, title):
         self.window.SetTitle(title)
 
@@ -1840,7 +1843,7 @@ def configure_subplots(self, evt):
     def save_figure(self, *args):
         # Fetch the required filename and file type.
         filetypes, exts, filter_index = self.canvas._get_imagesave_wildcards()
-        default_file = "image." + self.canvas.get_default_filetype()
+        default_file = self.canvas.get_default_filename()
         dlg = wx.FileDialog(self._parent, "Save to file", "", default_file,
                             filetypes,
                             wx.SAVE|wx.OVERWRITE_PROMPT)
diff --git a/src/_macosx.m b/src/_macosx.m
index 40d41580758f..6c291f792e54 100644
--- a/src/_macosx.m
+++ b/src/_macosx.m
@@ -3827,6 +3827,56 @@ static void _data_provider_release(void* info, const void* data, size_t size)
     return Py_None;
 }
 
+static PyObject*
+FigureManager_set_window_title(FigureManager* self,
+                               PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
+{
+    char* title;
+    if(!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "es", "UTF-8", &title))
+        return NULL;
+
+    Window* window = self->window;
+    if(window)
+    {
+        NSAutoreleasePool* pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
+        NSString* ns_title = [[NSString alloc]
+                              initWithCString: title
+                              encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding];
+        [window setTitle: ns_title];
+        [pool release];
+    }
+    PyMem_Free(title);
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+FigureManager_get_window_title(FigureManager* self)
+{
+    Window* window = self->window;
+    PyObject* result = NULL;
+    if(window)
+    {
+        NSAutoreleasePool* pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
+        NSString* title = [window title];
+        if (title) {
+            const char* cTitle = [title UTF8String];
+#if PY3K || (PY_MAJOR_VERSION == 2 && PY_MINOR_VERSION >= 6)
+            result = PyUnicode_FromString(cTitle);
+#else
+            result = PyString_FromString(cTitle);
+#endif
+        }
+        [pool release];
+    }
+    if (result) {
+        return result;
+    } else {
+        Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+        return Py_None;
+    }
+}
+
 static PyMethodDef FigureManager_methods[] = {
     {"show",
      (PyCFunction)FigureManager_show,
@@ -3838,6 +3888,16 @@ static void _data_provider_release(void* info, const void* data, size_t size)
      METH_NOARGS,
      "Closes the window associated with the figure manager."
     },
+    {"set_window_title",
+     (PyCFunction)FigureManager_set_window_title,
+     METH_VARARGS,
+     "Sets the title of the window associated with the figure manager."
+    },
+    {"get_window_title",
+     (PyCFunction)FigureManager_get_window_title,
+     METH_NOARGS,
+     "Returns the title of the window associated with the figure manager."
+    },
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
@@ -4806,11 +4866,19 @@ -(void)save_figure:(id)sender
 {
     int result;
     const char* title;
-    if(!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &title)) return NULL;
+    char* default_filename;
+    if(!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ses", &title, "UTF-8", &default_filename))
+        return NULL;
 
     NSSavePanel* panel = [NSSavePanel savePanel];
     [panel setTitle: [NSString stringWithCString: title
                                         encoding: NSASCIIStringEncoding]];
+    NSString* ns_default_filename =
+        [[NSString alloc]
+         initWithCString: default_filename
+         encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding];
+    PyMem_Free(default_filename);
+    [panel setNameFieldStringValue: ns_default_filename];
     result = [panel runModal];
     if (result == NSOKButton)
     {