diff --git a/api-ref/source/baremetal-api-v1-allocation.inc b/api-ref/source/baremetal-api-v1-allocation.inc
index 808005dba2..fe699efaeb 100644
--- a/api-ref/source/baremetal-api-v1-allocation.inc
+++ b/api-ref/source/baremetal-api-v1-allocation.inc
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ parameters must be missing or match the provided node.
     Added support for backfilling allocations.
 
 .. versionadded:: 1.60
-  Introduced the ``owner`` field.
+    Introduced the ``owner`` field.
+
+.. versionadded:: 1.79
+    A node with the same name as the allocation ``name`` is moved to the
+    start of the derived candidiate list.
 
 Normal response codes: 201
 
diff --git a/ironic/api/controllers/v1/versions.py b/ironic/api/controllers/v1/versions.py
index 14330a7340..7fc80bc970 100644
--- a/ironic/api/controllers/v1/versions.py
+++ b/ironic/api/controllers/v1/versions.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ BASE_VERSION = 1
 # v1.76: Add support for changing boot_mode and secure_boot state
 # v1.77: Add fields selector to drivers list and driver detail.
 # v1.78: Add node history endpoint
+# v1.79: Change allocation behaviour to prefer node name match
 
 MINOR_0_JUNO = 0
 MINOR_1_INITIAL_VERSION = 1
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ MINOR_75_NODE_BOOT_MODE = 75
 MINOR_76_NODE_CHANGE_BOOT_MODE = 76
 MINOR_77_DRIVER_FIELDS_SELECTOR = 77
 MINOR_78_NODE_HISTORY = 78
+MINOR_79_ALLOCATION_NODE_NAME = 79
 
 # When adding another version, update:
 # - MINOR_MAX_VERSION
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ MINOR_78_NODE_HISTORY = 78
 #   explanation of what changed in the new version
 # - common/release_mappings.py, RELEASE_MAPPING['master']['api']
 
-MINOR_MAX_VERSION = MINOR_78_NODE_HISTORY
+MINOR_MAX_VERSION = MINOR_79_ALLOCATION_NODE_NAME
 
 # String representations of the minor and maximum versions
 _MIN_VERSION_STRING = '{}.{}'.format(BASE_VERSION, MINOR_1_INITIAL_VERSION)
diff --git a/ironic/common/release_mappings.py b/ironic/common/release_mappings.py
index a054501eb4..aaf423bfe1 100644
--- a/ironic/common/release_mappings.py
+++ b/ironic/common/release_mappings.py
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ RELEASE_MAPPING = {
         }
     },
     'master': {
-        'api': '1.78',
+        'api': '1.79',
         'rpc': '1.55',
         'objects': {
             'Allocation': ['1.1'],
diff --git a/ironic/conductor/allocations.py b/ironic/conductor/allocations.py
index b6ce3ed1c8..298174fbbd 100644
--- a/ironic/conductor/allocations.py
+++ b/ironic/conductor/allocations.py
@@ -141,6 +141,15 @@ def _candidate_nodes(context, allocation):
     # in the same order.
     random.shuffle(nodes)
 
+    # NOTE(sbaker): if the allocation name matches a node name, attempt that
+    # node first. This will reduce confusion when nodes have the same naming
+    # scheme as allocations.
+    if allocation.name:
+        for i, node in enumerate(nodes):
+            if node.name == allocation.name:
+                nodes.insert(0, nodes.pop(i))
+                break
+
     LOG.debug('%(count)d nodes are candidates for allocation %(uuid)s',
               {'count': len(nodes), 'uuid': allocation.uuid})
     return nodes
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/conductor/test_allocations.py b/ironic/tests/unit/conductor/test_allocations.py
index 91046b72f5..d063cd13af 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/conductor/test_allocations.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/conductor/test_allocations.py
@@ -476,6 +476,41 @@ class DoAllocateTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
         # All nodes are filtered out on the database level.
         self.assertFalse(mock_acquire.called)
 
+    def test_name_match_first(self):
+        obj_utils.create_test_node(self.context,
+                                   uuid=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
+                                   name='node-1',
+                                   power_state='power on',
+                                   resource_class='x-large',
+                                   provision_state='available')
+        node = obj_utils.create_test_node(self.context,
+                                          uuid=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
+                                          name='node-2',
+                                          power_state='power on',
+                                          resource_class='x-large',
+                                          provision_state='available')
+        obj_utils.create_test_node(self.context,
+                                   uuid=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
+                                   name='node-3',
+                                   power_state='power on',
+                                   resource_class='x-large',
+                                   provision_state='available')
+        allocation = obj_utils.create_test_allocation(self.context,
+                                                      name='node-2',
+                                                      resource_class='x-large')
+
+        allocations.do_allocate(self.context, allocation)
+
+        allocation = objects.Allocation.get_by_uuid(self.context,
+                                                    allocation['uuid'])
+        self.assertIsNone(allocation['last_error'])
+        self.assertEqual('active', allocation['state'])
+
+        node = objects.Node.get_by_uuid(self.context, node['uuid'])
+        self.assertEqual(allocation['uuid'], node['instance_uuid'])
+        self.assertEqual(allocation['id'], node['allocation_id'])
+        self.assertEqual('node-2', node['name'])
+
 
 class BackfillAllocationTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
     def test_with_associated_node(self):
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/allocation-node-name-46b473ec82662f7f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/allocation-node-name-46b473ec82662f7f.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0cfab27d11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/allocation-node-name-46b473ec82662f7f.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    When an allocation is being processed, the randomized candidate list is now
+    modified so that a node with a matching name to the allocation is moved
+    to the beginning of the list. This greatly increases the chance of node name
+    and allocation name matching in environments where the naming schemes align.
\ No newline at end of file