diff --git a/src/main/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpec.java b/src/main/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpec.java
index 342e657d0..8b2b6ed79 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpec.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpec.java
@@ -103,9 +103,18 @@ static List<ParameterSpec> parametersOf(ExecutableElement method) {
     return result;
   }
 
+  private static boolean isValidParameterName(String name) {
+    // Allow "this" for explicit receiver parameters
+    // See https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-8.html#jls-8.4.1.
+    if (name.endsWith(".this")) {
+      return SourceVersion.isIdentifier(name.substring(0, name.length() - ".this".length()));
+    }
+    return name.equals("this") || SourceVersion.isName(name);
+  }
+
   public static Builder builder(TypeName type, String name, Modifier... modifiers) {
     checkNotNull(type, "type == null");
-    checkArgument(SourceVersion.isName(name), "not a valid name: %s", name);
+    checkArgument(isValidParameterName(name), "not a valid name: %s", name);
     return new Builder(type, name)
         .addModifiers(modifiers);
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpecTest.java b/src/test/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpecTest.java
index 8585986af..561eebfda 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpecTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/squareup/javapoet/ParameterSpecTest.java
@@ -60,6 +60,25 @@ private TypeElement getElement(Class<?> clazz) {
     assertThat(a.toString()).isEqualTo(b.toString());
   }
 
+  @Test public void receiverParameterInstanceMethod() {
+    ParameterSpec.Builder builder = ParameterSpec.builder(int.class, "this");
+    assertThat(builder.build().name).isEqualTo("this");
+  }
+
+  @Test public void receiverParameterNestedClass() {
+    ParameterSpec.Builder builder = ParameterSpec.builder(int.class, "Foo.this");
+    assertThat(builder.build().name).isEqualTo("Foo.this");
+  }
+
+  @Test public void keywordName() {
+    try {
+      ParameterSpec.builder(int.class, "super");
+      fail();
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      assertThat(e.getMessage()).isEqualTo("not a valid name: super");
+    }
+  }
+
   @Test public void nullAnnotationsAddition() {
     try {
       ParameterSpec.builder(int.class, "foo").addAnnotations(null);