diff --git a/countdown/ircplugin.py b/countdown/ircplugin.py
index 8edd977..9780636 100644
--- a/countdown/ircplugin.py
+++ b/countdown/ircplugin.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ class Countdown(Plugin):
     new_reminder_regex = (r'remind\s+(?P<who>[^\s]+)\s+(?P<when_type>at|in|on)\s+(?P<when>.*?)\s+'
                           r'(and\s+every\s+(?P<recurring_period>.*?)\s+)?'
                           r'(until\s+(?P<recurring_until>.*?)\s+)?'
-                          r'(to|that|about)\s+(?P<text>.*)')
+                          r'(to|that|about)\s+(?P<text>.*?)'
+                          r'(?=\s+\("(?P<name>.*)"\)|$)')
 
     def __init__(self, bot, connection, event):
         """Initialize some stuff."""
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ class Countdown(Plugin):
 
         self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!countdown\s+list$',
                                                          self.handle_item_list, -20)
-        self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!countdown\s+(\S+)$',
+        self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!countdown\s+(.+)$',
                                                          self.handle_item_detail, -20)
         self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.new_reminder_regex,
                                                          self.handle_new_reminder, -50)
@@ -99,9 +100,16 @@ class Countdown(Plugin):
             recurring_period = match.group('recurring_period')
             recurring_until = match.group('recurring_until')
             text = match.group('text')
+            name = match.group('name')
             log.debug("%s / %s / %s", who, when, text)
 
-            item_name = '{0:s}-{1:s}'.format(event.sender_nick, timezone.now().strftime('%s'))
+            if not name:
+                item_name = '{0:s}-{1:s}'.format(event.sender_nick, timezone.now().strftime('%s'))
+            else:
+                if CountdownItem.objects.filter(name=name).count() > 0:
+                    self.bot.reply(event, "item with name '{0:s}' already exists".format(name))
+                    return 'NO MORE'
+                item_name = name
 
             # parse when to send the notification
             if when_type == 'in':