diff --git a/pymongo/mongo_client.py b/pymongo/mongo_client.py
index dcba068f6..c89920d38 100644
--- a/pymongo/mongo_client.py
+++ b/pymongo/mongo_client.py
@@ -376,7 +376,8 @@ class MongoClient(common.BaseObject):
             condition_class=self._topology_settings.condition_class,
             interval=common.KILL_CURSOR_FREQUENCY,
             min_interval=0,
-            target=target)
+            target=target,
+            name="pymongo_kill_cursors_thread")
 
         # We strongly reference the executor and it weakly references us via
         # this closure. When the client is freed, stop the executor soon.
diff --git a/pymongo/monitor.py b/pymongo/monitor.py
index 0967d15f3..375e8cad6 100644
--- a/pymongo/monitor.py
+++ b/pymongo/monitor.py
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ class Monitor(object):
             condition_class=self._settings.condition_class,
             interval=common.HEARTBEAT_FREQUENCY,
             min_interval=common.MIN_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL,
-            target=target)
+            target=target,
+            name="pymongo_server_monitor_thread")
 
         self._executor = executor
         
diff --git a/pymongo/periodic_executor.py b/pymongo/periodic_executor.py
index d919b3727..84a4fefa9 100644
--- a/pymongo/periodic_executor.py
+++ b/pymongo/periodic_executor.py
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ from pymongo.monotonic import time as _time
 
 
 class PeriodicExecutor(object):
-    def __init__(self, condition_class, interval, min_interval, target):
+    def __init__(
+            self, condition_class, interval, min_interval, target, name=None):
         """"Run a target function periodically on a background thread.
 
         If the target's return value is false, the executor stops.
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ class PeriodicExecutor(object):
           - `min_interval`: Minimum seconds between calls if `wake` is
             called very often.
           - `target`: A function.
+          - `name`: A name to give the underlying thread.
         """
         self._event = thread_util.Event(condition_class)
         self._interval = interval
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ class PeriodicExecutor(object):
         self._target = target
         self._stopped = False
         self._thread = None
+        self._name = name
 
     def open(self):
         """Start. Multiple calls have no effect.
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ class PeriodicExecutor(object):
             pass
 
         if not started:
-            thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run)
+            thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run, name=self._name)
             thread.daemon = True
             self._thread = weakref.proxy(thread)
             _register_executor(self)