diff --git a/actionpack/test/activerecord/polymorphic_routes_test.rb b/actionpack/test/activerecord/polymorphic_routes_test.rb
index fc829aa6b4a70..90e7f4ae5965e 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/activerecord/polymorphic_routes_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/activerecord/polymorphic_routes_test.rb
@@ -2,36 +2,36 @@
 require 'fixtures/project'
 
 class Task < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 class Step < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 class Bid < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 class Tax < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 class Fax < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 class Series < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
 end
 
 module Blog
   class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'projects'
+    self.table_name = 'projects'
   end
 
   class Blog < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'projects'
+    self.table_name = 'projects'
   end
 
   def self.use_relative_model_naming?
diff --git a/actionpack/test/fixtures/developer.rb b/actionpack/test/fixtures/developer.rb
index c70eda34c6d38..dd14548facc1b 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/fixtures/developer.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/fixtures/developer.rb
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ class Developer < ActiveRecord::Base
 end
 
 class DeVeLoPeR < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name "developers"
+  self.table_name = "developers"
 end
diff --git a/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md b/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
index 6fbcfb4c14789..2d15b04334488 100644
--- a/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
 ## Rails 3.2.0 (unreleased) ##
 
+*   Deprecated `set_table_name`. Use `self.table_name=` instead, or define your own
+    `self.table_name` method:
+
+         class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
+           self.table_name = "project"
+         end
+
+         class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
+           def self.table_name
+             "special_" + super
+           end
+         end
+         Post.table_name # => "special_posts"
+
+    *Jon Leighton*
+
 *   Generated association methods are created within a separate module to allow overriding and
     composition using `super`. For a class named `MyModel`, the module is named
     `MyModel::GeneratedFeatureMethods`. It is included into the model class immediately after
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb
index e1908312b8260..bccf1b9b77f31 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 require 'active_support/core_ext/module/introspection'
 require 'active_support/core_ext/object/duplicable'
 require 'active_support/core_ext/object/blank'
+require 'active_support/deprecation'
 require 'arel'
 require 'active_record/errors'
 require 'active_record/log_subscriber'
@@ -624,14 +625,61 @@ def serialize(attr_name, class_name = Object)
       # the table name guess for an Invoice class becomes "myapp_invoices".
       # Invoice::Lineitem becomes "myapp_invoice_lineitems".
       #
-      # You can also overwrite this class method to allow for unguessable
-      # links, such as a Mouse class with a link to a "mice" table. Example:
+      # You can also set your own table name explicitly:
       #
       #   class Mouse < ActiveRecord::Base
-      #     set_table_name "mice"
+      #     self.table_name = "mice"
       #   end
+      #
+      # Alternatively, you can override the table_name method to define your
+      # own computation. (Possibly using <tt>super</tt> to manipulate the default
+      # table name.) Example:
+      #
+      #   class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
+      #     def self.table_name
+      #       "special_" + super
+      #     end
+      #   end
+      #   Post.table_name # => "special_posts"
       def table_name
-        reset_table_name
+        reset_table_name unless defined?(@table_name)
+        @table_name
+      end
+
+      # Sets the table name explicitly. Example:
+      #
+      #   class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
+      #     self.table_name = "project"
+      #   end
+      #
+      # You can also just define your own <tt>self.table_name</tt> method; see
+      # the documentation for ActiveRecord::Base#table_name.
+      def table_name=(value)
+        @quoted_table_name = nil
+        @arel_table        = nil
+        @table_name        = value
+        @relation          = Relation.new(self, arel_table)
+      end
+
+      def set_table_name(value = nil, &block) #:nodoc:
+        if block
+          ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn(
+            "Calling set_table_name is deprecated. If you need to lazily evaluate " \
+            "the table name, define your own `self.table_name` class method. You can use `super` " \
+            "to get the default table name where you would have called `original_table_name`."
+          )
+
+          @quoted_table_name = nil
+          define_attr_method :table_name, value, &block
+          @arel_table = nil
+          @relation = Relation.new(self, arel_table)
+        else
+          ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn(
+            "Calling set_table_name is deprecated. Please use `self.table_name = 'the_name'` instead."
+          )
+
+          self.table_name = value
+        end
       end
 
       # Returns a quoted version of the table name, used to construct SQL statements.
@@ -641,9 +689,13 @@ def quoted_table_name
 
       # Computes the table name, (re)sets it internally, and returns it.
       def reset_table_name #:nodoc:
-        return if abstract_class?
-
-        self.table_name = compute_table_name
+        if superclass.abstract_class?
+          self.table_name = superclass.table_name || compute_table_name
+        elsif abstract_class?
+          self.table_name = superclass == Base ? nil : superclass.table_name
+        else
+          self.table_name = compute_table_name
+        end
       end
 
       def full_table_name_prefix #:nodoc:
@@ -668,21 +720,6 @@ def reset_sequence_name #:nodoc:
         default
       end
 
-      # Sets the table name. If the value is nil or false then the value returned by the given
-      # block is used.
-      #
-      #   class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
-      #     set_table_name "project"
-      #   end
-      def set_table_name(value = nil, &block)
-        @quoted_table_name = nil
-        define_attr_method :table_name, value, &block
-        @arel_table = nil
-
-        @relation = Relation.new(self, arel_table)
-      end
-      alias :table_name= :set_table_name
-
       # Sets the name of the inheritance column to use to the given value,
       # or (if the value # is nil or false) to the value returned by the
       # given block.
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql/schema_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql/schema_test.rb
index 1aa034ed53987..29f885c6e731a 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql/schema_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql/schema_test.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def setup
         @db_name    = db
 
         @omgpost = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
-          set_table_name "#{db}.#{table}"
+          self.table_name = "#{db}.#{table}"
           def self.name; 'Post'; end
         end
       end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/schema_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/schema_test.rb
index 49514e15391fe..d5676bc522577 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/schema_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/schema_test.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def setup
         @db_name    = db
 
         @omgpost = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
-          set_table_name "#{db}.#{table}"
+          self.table_name = "#{db}.#{table}"
           def self.name; 'Post'; end
         end
       end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/schema_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/schema_test.rb
index 467e5d7b8618d..d08f0b324d54d 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/schema_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/schema_test.rb
@@ -26,23 +26,23 @@ class SchemaTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   PK_TABLE_NAME = 'table_with_pk'
 
   class Thing1 < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name "test_schema.things"
+    self.table_name = "test_schema.things"
   end
 
   class Thing2 < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name "test_schema2.things"
+    self.table_name = "test_schema2.things"
   end
 
   class Thing3 < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'test_schema."things.table"'
+    self.table_name = 'test_schema."things.table"'
   end
 
   class Thing4 < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'test_schema."Things"'
+    self.table_name = 'test_schema."Things"'
   end
 
   class Thing5 < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'things'
+    self.table_name = 'things'
   end
 
   def setup
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/view_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/view_test.rb
index 303ba9245a53b..66e07b71a064d 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/view_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/view_test.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class ViewTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   ]
 
   class ThingView < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'test_schema.view_things'
+    self.table_name = 'test_schema.view_things'
   end
 
   def setup
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/eager_load_includes_full_sti_class_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/eager_load_includes_full_sti_class_test.rb
index d75791cab98c1..7965bb404c7b1 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/eager_load_includes_full_sti_class_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/eager_load_includes_full_sti_class_test.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 module Namespaced
   class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name 'posts'
+    self.table_name = 'posts'
     has_one :tagging, :as => :taggable, :class_name => 'Tagging'
   end
 end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/has_and_belongs_to_many_associations_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/has_and_belongs_to_many_associations_test.rb
index 32a33894220bb..b49510b2020a5 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/has_and_belongs_to_many_associations_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/has_and_belongs_to_many_associations_test.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 require 'active_support/core_ext/string/conversions'
 
 class ProjectWithAfterCreateHook < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
   has_and_belongs_to_many :developers,
     :class_name => "DeveloperForProjectWithAfterCreateHook",
     :join_table => "developers_projects",
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def add_david
 end
 
 class DeveloperForProjectWithAfterCreateHook < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
   has_and_belongs_to_many :projects,
     :class_name => "ProjectWithAfterCreateHook",
     :join_table => "developers_projects",
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class DeveloperForProjectWithAfterCreateHook < ActiveRecord::Base
 end
 
 class ProjectWithSymbolsForKeys < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'projects'
+  self.table_name = 'projects'
   has_and_belongs_to_many :developers,
     :class_name => "DeveloperWithSymbolsForKeys",
     :join_table => :developers_projects,
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class ProjectWithSymbolsForKeys < ActiveRecord::Base
 end
 
 class DeveloperWithSymbolsForKeys < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
   has_and_belongs_to_many :projects,
     :class_name => "ProjectWithSymbolsForKeys",
     :join_table => :developers_projects,
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class DeveloperWithSymbolsForKeys < ActiveRecord::Base
 end
 
 class DeveloperWithCounterSQL < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
   has_and_belongs_to_many :projects,
     :class_name => "DeveloperWithCounterSQL",
     :join_table => "developers_projects",
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/join_model_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/join_model_test.rb
index 4ce8b85098c44..995afef796145 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/associations/join_model_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/associations/join_model_test.rb
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ def find_post_with_dependency(post_id, association, association_name, dependency
       class_name = "PostWith#{association.to_s.classify}#{dependency.to_s.classify}"
       Post.find(post_id).update_column :type, class_name
       klass = Object.const_set(class_name, Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base))
-      klass.set_table_name 'posts'
+      klass.table_name = 'posts'
       klass.send(association, association_name, :as => :taggable, :dependent => dependency)
       klass.find(post_id)
     end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
index cda5d1f2b7a4b..523b0c74edf4a 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
@@ -1431,16 +1431,19 @@ def test_set_table_name_with_value
     k = Class.new( ActiveRecord::Base )
     k.table_name = "foo"
     assert_equal "foo", k.table_name
-    k.set_table_name "bar"
+
+    assert_deprecated do
+      k.set_table_name "bar"
+    end
     assert_equal "bar", k.table_name
   end
 
   def test_switching_between_table_name
     assert_difference("GoodJoke.count") do
-      Joke.set_table_name "cold_jokes"
+      Joke.table_name = "cold_jokes"
       Joke.create
 
-      Joke.set_table_name "funny_jokes"
+      Joke.table_name = "funny_jokes"
       Joke.create
     end
   end
@@ -1448,19 +1451,29 @@ def test_switching_between_table_name
   def test_quoted_table_name_after_set_table_name
     klass = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base)
 
-    klass.set_table_name "foo"
+    klass.table_name = "foo"
     assert_equal "foo", klass.table_name
     assert_equal klass.connection.quote_table_name("foo"), klass.quoted_table_name
 
-    klass.set_table_name "bar"
+    klass.table_name = "bar"
     assert_equal "bar", klass.table_name
     assert_equal klass.connection.quote_table_name("bar"), klass.quoted_table_name
   end
 
   def test_set_table_name_with_block
     k = Class.new( ActiveRecord::Base )
-    k.set_table_name { "ks" }
-    assert_equal "ks", k.table_name
+    assert_deprecated do
+      k.set_table_name "foo"
+      k.set_table_name { original_table_name + "ks" }
+    end
+    assert_equal "fooks", k.table_name
+  end
+
+  def test_set_table_name_with_inheritance
+    k = Class.new( ActiveRecord::Base )
+    def k.name; "Foo"; end
+    def k.table_name; super + "ks"; end
+    assert_equal "foosks", k.table_name
   end
 
   def test_set_primary_key_with_value
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/callbacks_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/callbacks_test.rb
index 7f4d25790bf6a..769076922605f 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/callbacks_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/callbacks_test.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 require "cases/helper"
 
 class CallbackDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   class << self
     def callback_string(callback_method)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class CallbackDeveloperWithFalseValidation < CallbackDeveloper
 end
 
 class ParentDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
   attr_accessor :after_save_called
   before_validation {|record| record.after_save_called = true}
 end
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class ChildDeveloper < ParentDeveloper
 end
 
 class RecursiveCallbackDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   before_save :on_before_save
   after_save :on_after_save
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def on_after_save
 end
 
 class ImmutableDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   validates_inclusion_of :salary, :in => 50000..200000
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def cancel
 end
 
 class ImmutableMethodDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   validates_inclusion_of :salary, :in => 50000..200000
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def cancelled?
 end
 
 class OnCallbacksDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   before_validation { history << :before_validation }
   before_validation(:on => :create){ history << :before_validation_on_create }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def history
 end
 
 class CallbackCancellationDeveloper < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'developers'
+  self.table_name = 'developers'
 
   attr_reader   :after_save_called, :after_create_called, :after_update_called, :after_destroy_called
   attr_accessor :cancel_before_save, :cancel_before_create, :cancel_before_update, :cancel_before_destroy
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/locking_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/locking_test.rb
index e9bd7f07b6646..de017022d7225 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/locking_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/locking_test.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 class LockWithoutDefault < ActiveRecord::Base; end
 
 class LockWithCustomColumnWithoutDefault < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name :lock_without_defaults_cust
+  self.table_name = :lock_without_defaults_cust
   set_locking_column :custom_lock_version
 end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/migration_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/migration_test.rb
index 3e219f2a49726..00c811194c81e 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/migration_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/migration_test.rb
@@ -1027,7 +1027,7 @@ def test_keeping_default_and_notnull_constaint_on_change
         t.column :title, :string
       end
       person_klass = Class.new(Person)
-      person_klass.set_table_name 'testings'
+      person_klass.table_name = 'testings'
 
       person_klass.connection.add_column "testings", "wealth", :integer, :null => false, :default => 99
       person_klass.reset_column_information
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/transaction_callbacks_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/transaction_callbacks_test.rb
index 85f222bca2c6f..f8b3e01a49000 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/transaction_callbacks_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/transaction_callbacks_test.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class TransactionCallbacksTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   fixtures :topics
 
   class TopicWithCallbacks < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name :topics
+    self.table_name = :topics
 
     after_commit{|record| record.send(:do_after_commit, nil)}
     after_commit(:on => :create){|record| record.send(:do_after_commit, :create)}
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ class TransactionObserverCallbacksTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   fixtures :topics
 
   class TopicWithObserverAttached < ActiveRecord::Base
-    set_table_name :topics
+    self.table_name = :topics
     def history
       @history ||= []
     end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/validations_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/validations_test.rb
index c3e494866bd4f..e575a98170c92 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/validations_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/validations_test.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 require 'models/company'
 
 class ProtectedPerson < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'people'
+  self.table_name = 'people'
   attr_accessor :addon
   attr_protected :first_name
 end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/models/joke.rb b/activerecord/test/models/joke.rb
index d7f01e59e60f0..edda4655dc70d 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/models/joke.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/models/joke.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 class Joke < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'funny_jokes'
+  self.table_name = 'funny_jokes'
 end
 
 class GoodJoke < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name 'funny_jokes'
+  self.table_name = 'funny_jokes'
 end
diff --git a/activerecord/test/models/liquid.rb b/activerecord/test/models/liquid.rb
index b96c054f6c42b..3fcd5e4b69603 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/models/liquid.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/models/liquid.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 class Liquid < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name :liquid
+  self.table_name = :liquid
   has_many :molecules, :uniq => true
 end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/models/warehouse_thing.rb b/activerecord/test/models/warehouse_thing.rb
index 6ace1183cc808..f20bd1a24529a 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/models/warehouse_thing.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/models/warehouse_thing.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 class WarehouseThing < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name "warehouse-things"
+  self.table_name = "warehouse-things"
 
   validates_uniqueness_of :value
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/railties/guides/source/active_record_basics.textile b/railties/guides/source/active_record_basics.textile
index 66ad7b0255831..487f8b70f9883 100644
--- a/railties/guides/source/active_record_basics.textile
+++ b/railties/guides/source/active_record_basics.textile
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ h3. Overriding the Naming Conventions
 
 What if you need to follow a different naming convention or need to use your Rails application with a legacy database? No problem, you can easily override the default conventions.
 
-You can use the +ActiveRecord::Base.set_table_name+ method to specify the table name that should be used:
+You can use the +ActiveRecord::Base.table_name=+ method to specify the table name that should be used:
 
 <ruby>
 class Product < ActiveRecord::Base
-  set_table_name "PRODUCT"
+  self.table_name = "PRODUCT"
 end
 </ruby>