diff --git a/charms_openstack/plugins/classes.py b/charms_openstack/plugins/classes.py
index fc983b6..21239d4 100644
--- a/charms_openstack/plugins/classes.py
+++ b/charms_openstack/plugins/classes.py
@@ -262,11 +262,19 @@ class BaseOpenStackCephCharm(object):
             ]
         return states_to_check
 
-    def create_pool(self, ceph_interface):
+    def create_pool(self, ceph_interface, pool_name=None):
         """Request pool for service.
 
+        The pool created will be a replicated pool and will adopt standard
+        BlueStore compression options that are configured for the charm.
+        Charms that do not have provide BlueStore compression options will
+        create pools using the Ceph storage configured defaults.
+
         :param ceph_interface: Ceph interface instance
         :type ceph_interface: CephRequires
+        :param pool_name: (Optional) name of the pool to create.
+                          Defaults to the name of the application deployed.
+        :type pool_name: str
         """
         try:
             bluestore_compression = self._get_bluestore_compression()
@@ -280,7 +288,7 @@ class BaseOpenStackCephCharm(object):
                                 .format(str(e)))
             return
         kwargs = {
-            'name': self.name,
+            'name': pool_name or self.application_name,
         }
         if bluestore_compression:
             kwargs.update(bluestore_compression)
diff --git a/unit_tests/charms_openstack/plugins/test_classes.py b/unit_tests/charms_openstack/plugins/test_classes.py
index 1bde0a4..3f1a37e 100644
--- a/unit_tests/charms_openstack/plugins/test_classes.py
+++ b/unit_tests/charms_openstack/plugins/test_classes.py
@@ -166,11 +166,19 @@ class TestOpenStackCephConsumingCharm(BaseOpenStackCharmTest):
         self._get_bluestore_compression.side_effect = ValueError
         self.target.create_pool(ceph_interface)
         self.assertFalse(ceph_interface.create_replicated_pool.called)
+
+        self.patch_object(cpl.ch_core.hookenv, 'application_name',
+                          return_value='svc1')
         self._get_bluestore_compression.side_effect = None
         self._get_bluestore_compression.return_value = {'fake': 'value'}
         self.target.create_pool(ceph_interface)
         ceph_interface.create_replicated_pool.assert_called_once_with(
-            name='charmname', fake='value')
+            name='svc1', fake='value')
+
+        ceph_interface.create_replicated_pool.reset_mock()
+        self.target.create_pool(ceph_interface, pool_name='custom_pool')
+        ceph_interface.create_replicated_pool.assert_called_once_with(
+            name='custom_pool', fake='value')
 
 
 class TestCephCharm(BaseOpenStackCharmTest):