diff --git a/core/src/klio_core/config/_io.py b/core/src/klio_core/config/_io.py
index a964b2b4..f1fac34d 100644
--- a/core/src/klio_core/config/_io.py
+++ b/core/src/klio_core/config/_io.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ def wrapper(cls):
 class KlioIOConfig(object):
     io_type = attr.attrib(type=KlioIOType)
     io_direction = attr.attrib(type=KlioIODirection)
+    name = attr.attrib(type=str)
 
     # these must be filled in by subclasses so Klio knows what supports what
     SUPPORTED_TYPES = []
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ def as_dict(self):
         # since dicts preserve order by default in py3, let's force
         # type to be first - particularly helpful/useful for dumping
         # config via `klio job config show`
-        copy = {"type": self.name}
+        copy = {"type": self.type_name}
         copy.update(config_dict)
         return copy
 
@@ -141,15 +142,19 @@ def from_dict(cls, config_dict, *args, **kwargs):
         # to be defined without a default after those that have defaults,
         # we're inserting the default value here if the user doesn't have
         # it already in their config
+        copy = config_dict.copy()
         if "skip_klio_read" not in config_dict:
-            copy = config_dict.copy()
             copy["skip_klio_read"] = False
+        if "name" not in config_dict:
+            copy["name"] = None
+        if "skip_klio_read" not in config_dict or "name" not in config_dict:
             return super().from_dict(copy, *args, **kwargs)
         return super().from_dict(config_dict, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def to_io_kwargs(self):
         kwargs = super().to_io_kwargs()
         kwargs.pop("skip_klio_read", None)
+        kwargs.pop("name", None)
         return kwargs
 
 
@@ -163,15 +168,19 @@ def from_dict(cls, config_dict, *args, **kwargs):
         # to be defined without a default after those that have defaults,
         # we're inserting the default value here if the user doesn't have
         # it already in their config
+        copy = config_dict.copy()
         if "skip_klio_write" not in config_dict:
-            copy = config_dict.copy()
             copy["skip_klio_write"] = False
+        if "name" not in config_dict:
+            copy["name"] = None
+        if "skip_klio_write" not in config_dict or "name" not in config_dict:
             return super().from_dict(copy, *args, **kwargs)
         return super().from_dict(config_dict, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def to_io_kwargs(self):
         kwargs = super().to_io_kwargs()
         kwargs.pop("skip_klio_write", None)
+        kwargs.pop("name", None)
         return kwargs
 
 
@@ -185,9 +194,15 @@ def from_dict(cls, config_dict, *args, **kwargs):
         # to be defined without a default after those that have defaults,
         # we're inserting the default value here if the user doesn't have
         # it already in their config
+        copy = config_dict.copy()
         if "skip_klio_existence_check" not in config_dict:
-            copy = config_dict.copy()
             copy["skip_klio_existence_check"] = False
+        if "name" not in config_dict:
+            copy["name"] = None
+        if (
+            "skip_klio_existence_check" not in config_dict
+            or "name" not in config_dict
+        ):
             return super().from_dict(copy, *args, **kwargs)
         return super().from_dict(config_dict, *args, **kwargs)
 
@@ -199,7 +214,7 @@ def to_io_kwargs(self):
 
 @attr.attrs(frozen=True)
 class KlioPubSubConfig(object):
-    name = "pubsub"
+    type_name = "pubsub"
     topic = attr.attrib(type=str)
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -254,7 +269,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, config_dict, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 class KlioFileConfig(object):
-    name = "file"
+    type_name = "file"
 
 
 @attr.attrs(frozen=True)
@@ -331,7 +346,7 @@ class KlioFileOutputDataConfig(KlioDataIOConfig, KlioFileConfig):
 
 
 class KlioAvroConfig(object):
-    name = "avro"
+    type_name = "avro"
 
 
 @attr.attrs(frozen=True)
@@ -387,7 +402,7 @@ def _convert_bigquery_input_coder(coder_str):
 
 @attr.attrs(frozen=True)
 class KlioBigQueryConfig(object):
-    name = "bq"
+    type_name = "bq"
     project = attr.attrib(type=str, default=None)
     dataset = attr.attrib(type=str, default=None)
     table = attr.attrib(type=str, default=None)
@@ -493,7 +508,7 @@ def contains_invalid_fields(field_list):
 
 @attr.attrs(frozen=True)
 class KlioGCSConfig(KlioIOConfig):
-    name = "gcs"
+    type_name = "gcs"
     location = attr.attrib(type=str)
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/core/src/klio_core/config/_preprocessing.py b/core/src/klio_core/config/_preprocessing.py
index c9d6ce48..567ac428 100644
--- a/core/src/klio_core/config/_preprocessing.py
+++ b/core/src/klio_core/config/_preprocessing.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 #
 
-import collections
 import string
 
 import glom
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ def _transform_io_list(io_subsection_list):
         """Transform lists of dicts into a nested dict of dicts, where the keys
         for the top-level dict come from the `name` field in the nested dict.
         If `name` is not present, a name is auto-generated based on the index
-        of the I/O and it's type.
+        of the I/O.
 
         example:
 
@@ -77,20 +76,12 @@ def _transform_io_list(io_subsection_list):
         }
         """
 
-        type_counters = collections.defaultdict(int)
         io_dict = {}
-        for conf in io_subsection_list:
+        for count, conf in enumerate(io_subsection_list):
             if "name" in conf:
                 name = conf["name"]
-                # TODO: right now "name" isn't supported in IOConfig (conflicts
-                # with existing "name" attribute), once that's fixed we
-                # shouldn't drop name here
-                conf.pop("name")
             else:
-                type_name = conf.get("type", "unknown")
-                type_id = type_counters[type_name]
-                type_counters[type_name] += 1
-                name = "{}{}".format(type_name, type_id)
+                name = count
 
             io_dict[name] = conf
 
diff --git a/core/src/klio_core/config/core.py b/core/src/klio_core/config/core.py
index 793e5755..cc087e78 100644
--- a/core/src/klio_core/config/core.py
+++ b/core/src/klio_core/config/core.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ def traverse(cls):
     def _create_config_objects(self, configs, io_type, io_direction):
         options = dict(
             [
-                (x.name, x)
+                (x.type_name, x)
                 for x in self._get_all_config_subclasses()
                 if x.supports_type(io_type)
                 and x.supports_direction(io_direction)
diff --git a/core/tests/config/test_config.py b/core/tests/config/test_config.py
index 886c66b8..db387aee 100644
--- a/core/tests/config/test_config.py
+++ b/core/tests/config/test_config.py
@@ -36,7 +36,11 @@ def job_config_dict():
                 },
             },
             "outputs": {
-                "pubsub0": {"type": "pubsub", "topic": "test-job-out"}
+                "pubsub0": {
+                    "type": "pubsub",
+                    "topic": "test-job-out",
+                    "name": "test-event-output0",
+                }
             },
         },
         "data": {
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ def job_config_dict():
                 "gcs0": {
                     "type": "GCS",
                     "location": "gs://sigint-output/test-parent-job-out",
+                    "name": "test-data-input0",
                 }
             },
             "outputs": {
@@ -63,21 +68,25 @@ def job_config_dict():
 @pytest.fixture
 def final_job_config_dict():
     return {
+        "allow_non_klio_messages": False,
         "metrics": {"logger": {}},
+        "blocking": False,
         "events": {
             "inputs": [
                 {
                     "type": "pubsub",
+                    "name": None,
+                    "skip_klio_read": False,
                     "topic": "test-parent-job-out",
                     "subscription": "test-parent-job-out-sub",
-                    "skip_klio_read": False,
-                },
+                }
             ],
             "outputs": [
                 {
                     "type": "pubsub",
-                    "topic": "test-job-out",
+                    "name": "test-event-output0",
                     "skip_klio_write": False,
+                    "topic": "test-job-out",
                 }
             ],
         },
@@ -85,8 +94,9 @@ def final_job_config_dict():
             "inputs": [
                 {
                     "type": "gcs",
-                    "location": "gs://sigint-output/test-parent-job-out",
+                    "name": "test-data-input0",
                     "skip_klio_existence_check": False,
+                    "location": "gs://sigint-output/test-parent-job-out",
                     "file_suffix": "",
                     "ping": False,
                 }
@@ -94,18 +104,17 @@ def final_job_config_dict():
             "outputs": [
                 {
                     "type": "gcs",
+                    "name": None,
+                    "skip_klio_existence_check": False,
+                    "location": "gs://sigint-output/test-job-out",
                     "file_suffix": "",
                     "force": False,
-                    "location": "gs://sigint-output/test-job-out",
-                    "skip_klio_existence_check": False,
                 }
             ],
         },
         "more": "config",
         "that": {"the": "user"},
         "might": ["include"],
-        "blocking": False,
-        "allow_non_klio_messages": False,
     }
 
 
@@ -427,7 +436,7 @@ def test_klio_read_file_config():
         config_dict, io.KlioIOType.DATA, io.KlioIODirection.INPUT
     )
 
-    assert "file" == klio_read_file_config.name
+    assert "file" == klio_read_file_config.type_name
     assert config_dict["location"] == klio_read_file_config.file_pattern
 
 
@@ -440,7 +449,7 @@ def test_klio_write_file_config():
         config_dict, io.KlioIOType.DATA, io.KlioIODirection.OUTPUT
     )
 
-    assert "file" == klio_write_file_config.name
+    assert "file" == klio_write_file_config.type_name
     assert config_dict["location"] == klio_write_file_config.file_path_prefix
 
 
@@ -461,7 +470,7 @@ def test_klio_write_bigquery_config():
         config_dict, io.KlioIOType.EVENT, io.KlioIODirection.OUTPUT
     )
 
-    assert "bq" == klio_write_bq_cfg.name
+    assert "bq" == klio_write_bq_cfg.type_name
     assert config_dict["schema"] == klio_write_bq_cfg.schema
     assert (
         config_dict["create_disposition"]
diff --git a/core/tests/config/test_preprocessing.py b/core/tests/config/test_preprocessing.py
index a2d41fec..533671d4 100644
--- a/core/tests/config/test_preprocessing.py
+++ b/core/tests/config/test_preprocessing.py
@@ -223,53 +223,68 @@ def test_apply_templates(
         assert expected == json.loads(new_dict)
 
 
-def test_transform_io(kcp):
-    config = {
-        "job_config": {
-            "events": {
-                "inputs": [
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                    {"type": "gcs", "gcskey": "gcsvalue"},
-                ],
-                "outputs": [
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value", "name": "mybq"},
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                ],
-            },
-            "data": {
-                "inputs": [],
-                "outputs": [
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value", "name": "mybq"},
-                    {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                ],
-            },
-        }
-    }
-    expected = {
-        "job_config": {
-            "events": {
-                "inputs": {
-                    "bq0": {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
-                    "bq1": {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                    "gcs0": {"type": "gcs", "gcskey": "gcsvalue"},
-                },
-                "outputs": {
-                    "mybq": {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
-                    "bq0": {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                },
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "config,expected",
+    (
+        # No overrides given - no changes in returned dict
+        (
+            {
+                "job_config": {
+                    "events": {
+                        "inputs": [
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                            {"type": "gcs", "gcskey": "gcsvalue"},
+                        ],
+                        "outputs": [
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value", "name": "mybq"},
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                        ],
+                    },
+                    "data": {
+                        "inputs": [],
+                        "outputs": [
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value", "name": "mybq"},
+                            {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                        ],
+                    },
+                }
             },
-            "data": {
-                "inputs": {},
-                "outputs": {
-                    "mybq": {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
-                    "bq0": {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
-                },
+            {
+                "job_config": {
+                    "events": {
+                        "inputs": {
+                            0: {"type": "bq", "key": "value"},
+                            1: {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                            2: {"type": "gcs", "gcskey": "gcsvalue"},
+                        },
+                        "outputs": {
+                            "mybq": {
+                                "type": "bq",
+                                "key": "value",
+                                "name": "mybq",
+                            },
+                            1: {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                        },
+                    },
+                    "data": {
+                        "inputs": {},
+                        "outputs": {
+                            "mybq": {
+                                "type": "bq",
+                                "key": "value",
+                                "name": "mybq",
+                            },
+                            1: {"type": "bq", "key": "value2"},
+                        },
+                    },
+                }
             },
-        }
-    }
+        ),
+    ),
+)
+def test_transform_io(kcp, config, expected):
     actual = kcp._transform_io_sections(config)
-
     assert actual == expected
 
 
diff --git a/exec/src/klio_exec/commands/run.py b/exec/src/klio_exec/commands/run.py
index a83cf967..c5dbdcd7 100644
--- a/exec/src/klio_exec/commands/run.py
+++ b/exec/src/klio_exec/commands/run.py
@@ -459,28 +459,32 @@ def lbl(label):
 
     # TODO this can prob go away if/when we make event_inputs a
     # dictionary rather than a list of dicts (@lynn)
-    def _generate_input_conf_names(self):
+    def _validate_input_conf_names(self):
         ev_inputs = self.config.job_config.events.inputs
-        input_dict = {}
-        for index, ev in enumerate(ev_inputs):
-            name = "{}{}".format(ev.name, index)
-            input_dict[name] = ev
-        return input_dict
+        ev_names = [input.name for input in ev_inputs]
+        # Enforce no duplicate event input names
+        # We could beef up the error message by returning the duplicates
+        # but this will go away when we make event_inputs a dict.
+        return len(ev_names) == len(set(ev_names))
 
     def _generate_pcoll_per_input(self, pipeline):
-        inputs = self._generate_input_conf_names()
+        if not self._validate_input_conf_names():
+            msg = "Duplicate event input names found."
+            logging.error(msg)
+            raise SystemExit(1)
+        inputs = self.config.job_config.events.inputs
         MultiInputPCollTuple = collections.namedtuple(
-            "MultiInputPCollTuple", list(inputs.keys())
+            "MultiInputPCollTuple", [input.name for input in inputs]
         )
         input_name_to_input_pcolls = {}
         multi_to_pass_thru = []
-        for input_name, input_conf in inputs.items():
+        for input_conf in inputs:
             input_to_process, input_to_pass_thru = self._generate_pcoll(
-                pipeline, input_conf, label_prefix=input_name
+                pipeline, input_conf, label_prefix=input_conf.name
             )
             if input_to_pass_thru:
                 multi_to_pass_thru.append(input_to_pass_thru)
-            input_name_to_input_pcolls[input_name] = input_to_process
+            input_name_to_input_pcolls[input_conf.name] = input_to_process
 
         to_process = MultiInputPCollTuple(**input_name_to_input_pcolls)
         to_pass_thru = (
@@ -500,7 +504,7 @@ def _generate_pcoll(self, pipeline, input_config, label_prefix=None):
         if label_prefix:
             label = "[{}] {}".format(label_prefix, label)
 
-        transform_cls_in = self._io_mapper.input[input_config.name]
+        transform_cls_in = self._io_mapper.input[input_config.type_name]
         in_pcol = pipeline | label >> transform_cls_in(
             **input_config.to_io_kwargs()
         )
@@ -534,7 +538,9 @@ def _setup_pipeline(self, pipeline):
         if self._has_event_outputs:
             output_config = self.config.job_config.events.outputs[0]
             if not output_config.skip_klio_write:
-                transform_cls_out = self._io_mapper.output[output_config.name]
+                transform_cls_out = self._io_mapper.output[
+                    output_config.type_name
+                ]
                 to_output = out_pcol
                 if to_pass_thru:
                     to_output_tuple = (out_pcol, to_pass_thru)
diff --git a/integration/multi-event-input-batch/klio-job.yaml b/integration/multi-event-input-batch/klio-job.yaml
index b9e9af7e..71e3b212 100644
--- a/integration/multi-event-input-batch/klio-job.yaml
+++ b/integration/multi-event-input-batch/klio-job.yaml
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ job_config:
   events:
     inputs:
       - type: file
+        name: "first_input"
         location: ./batch_track_ids_1.txt
       - type: file
+        name: "second_input"
         location: ./batch_track_ids_2.txt
     outputs:
       - type: file
diff --git a/integration/multi-event-input-batch/run.py b/integration/multi-event-input-batch/run.py
index 841b1fe3..7d031045 100644
--- a/integration/multi-event-input-batch/run.py
+++ b/integration/multi-event-input-batch/run.py
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ def combined_func(ctx, item):
 
 
 def run(pcolls, config):
-    first = pcolls.file0 | "process first" >> beam.Map(first_func)
-    second = pcolls.file1 | "process second" >> beam.Map(second_func)
+    first = pcolls.first_input | "process first" >> beam.Map(first_func)
+    second = pcolls.second_input | "process second" >> beam.Map(second_func)
     combined = (first, second) | beam.Flatten()
     return combined | "process combined" >> beam.Map(combined_func)