diff --git a/CMakeGlobals.txt b/CMakeGlobals.txt
index ea70424832e..c558be128d3 100644
--- a/CMakeGlobals.txt
+++ b/CMakeGlobals.txt
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ else()
 endif()
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION "${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH}")
 
-set(RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME "Wax Begonia")
-
 string(TIMESTAMP CPACK_COPYRIGHT_YEAR "%Y")
 string(TIMESTAMP CPACK_BUILD_DATE "%Y-%m-%d")
 
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 97ff332bbd3..1f1f395fe49 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@
 #
 
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.4.3)
-project (RStudio)
+
+# release name
+include(CMakeRelease.txt)
+
+# project name
+project("RStudio [${RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME}]")
 
 # set compiler
 include(CMakeCompiler.txt)
diff --git a/CMakeRelease.txt b/CMakeRelease.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..43a2bb0c670
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CMakeRelease.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# CMakeRelease.txt
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2009-20 by RStudio, PBC
+#
+# Unless you have received this program directly from RStudio pursuant
+# to the terms of a commercial license agreement with RStudio, then
+# this program is licensed to you under the terms of version 3 of the
+# GNU Affero General Public License. This program is distributed WITHOUT
+# ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING THOSE OF NON-INFRINGEMENT,
+# MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Please refer to the
+# AGPL (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.txt) for more details.
+#
+
+file(STRINGS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/RELEASE" RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME LIMIT_COUNT 1)
+set(RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME "${RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME}" CACHE STRING "RStudio release name")
+
diff --git a/RELEASE b/RELEASE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ac69acc09cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASE
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Wax Begonia
diff --git a/src/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/src/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index 210bac0c2ca..d36d93b0981 100644
--- a/src/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,8 +16,13 @@
 # set minimum version
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.4.3)
 
-project (RSTUDIO_CPP)
+# read release name
+include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../CMakeRelease.txt")
 
+# set project name
+project("RStudio [${RSTUDIO_RELEASE_NAME}]")
+
+# tools for reading executable file pre-requisites
 include(GetPrerequisites)
 
 # set compiler