diff --git a/bare-metrics-core/src/structures.rs b/bare-metrics-core/src/structures.rs
index 933696b..5d124a0 100644
--- a/bare-metrics-core/src/structures.rs
+++ b/bare-metrics-core/src/structures.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ impl UnixTimestampMilliseconds {
 pub struct LogHeader {
     /// String describing the version of this metrics log file.
     pub bare_metrics_version: String,
+    /// Name of the application that emitted this metrics log file.
+    /// Useful for auto-detection of rules for e.g. the GUI.
+    pub application_name: String,
     /// Unix timestamp (milliseconds) describing the start of the metrics.
     pub start_time: UnixTimestampMilliseconds,
 }
diff --git a/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/counter.rs b/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/counter.rs
index 683d273..5f260bc 100644
--- a/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/counter.rs
+++ b/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/counter.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 pub fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let (shard, stopper) =
-        BareMetricsRecorderCore::new(File::create("/tmp/counter-example.baremetrics")?).start()?;
+        BareMetricsRecorderCore::new(File::create("/tmp/counter-example.baremetrics")?)
+            .start("counterdemo".to_string())?;
     shard.install_as_metrics_recorder()?;
     register_counter!("my_counter", Unit::BitsPerSecond, "Some counter thing :).");
 
diff --git a/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/histogram.rs b/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/histogram.rs
index 91b99bc..0b86595 100644
--- a/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/histogram.rs
+++ b/bare-metrics-recorder/examples/histogram.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 pub fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let (shard, stopper) =
         BareMetricsRecorderCore::new(File::create("/tmp/histogram-example.baremetrics")?)
-            .start()?;
+            .start("histogramdemo".to_string())?;
     shard.install_as_metrics_recorder()?;
     register_histogram!("my_hist", Unit::BitsPerSecond, "Some thing :).");
 
diff --git a/bare-metrics-recorder/src/recording.rs b/bare-metrics-recorder/src/recording.rs
index ddd355f..a633804 100644
--- a/bare-metrics-recorder/src/recording.rs
+++ b/bare-metrics-recorder/src/recording.rs
@@ -54,13 +54,16 @@ impl<W: Write + Send + 'static> BareMetricsRecorderCore<W> {
         self
     }
 
-    pub fn start(self) -> anyhow::Result<(BareMetricsRecorderShard, BareMetricsRecorderStopper)> {
+    pub fn start(
+        self,
+        application_name: String,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<(BareMetricsRecorderShard, BareMetricsRecorderStopper)> {
         let (tx, rx) = crossbeam_channel::bounded(self.queue_size);
 
         let handle = std::thread::Builder::new()
             .name("bare-metrics-recorder".to_string())
             .spawn(move || {
-                if let Err(e) = self.run_forever(rx) {
+                if let Err(e) = self.run_forever(rx, application_name) {
                     error!("Recorder erred: {:?}", e);
                 }
             })?;
@@ -97,13 +100,18 @@ impl<W: Write + Send + 'static> BareMetricsRecorderCore<W> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn run_forever(mut self, rx: Receiver<RecorderMessage>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    fn run_forever(
+        mut self,
+        rx: Receiver<RecorderMessage>,
+        application_name: String,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         // Write out the header.
         let start = SystemTime::now();
         serde_bare::to_writer(
             &mut self.writer,
             &LogHeader {
                 bare_metrics_version: get_supported_version().to_string(),
+                application_name,
                 start_time: UnixTimestampMilliseconds(
                     start
                         .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)