diff --git a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketReader.java b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketReader.java
index 25c5c0427..1a6fbdd8f 100644
--- a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketReader.java
+++ b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketReader.java
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class PacketReader {
                 parsePackets(this);
             }
         };
-        readerThread.setName("Smack Packet Reader");
+        readerThread.setName("Smack Packet Reader (" + connection.connectionCounterValue + ")");
         readerThread.setDaemon(true);
 
         listenerThread = new Thread() {
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class PacketReader {
                 }
             }
         };
-        listenerThread.setName("Smack Listener Processor");
+        listenerThread.setName("Smack Listener Processor (" + connection.connectionCounterValue + ")");
         listenerThread.setDaemon(true);
 
         resetParser();
diff --git a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketWriter.java b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketWriter.java
index 0019454bd..bffbee6aa 100644
--- a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketWriter.java
+++ b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/PacketWriter.java
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class PacketWriter {
                 writePackets(this);
             }
         };
-        writerThread.setName("Smack Packet Writer");
+        writerThread.setName("Smack Packet Writer (" + connection.connectionCounterValue + ")");
         writerThread.setDaemon(true);
     }
 
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class PacketWriter {
             keepAliveThread = new Thread(target);
             target.setThread(keepAliveThread);
             keepAliveThread.setDaemon(true);
-            keepAliveThread.setName("Smack Keep Alive");
+            keepAliveThread.setName("Smack Keep Alive (" + connection.connectionCounterValue + ")");
             keepAliveThread.start();
         }
     }
diff --git a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/XMPPConnection.java b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/XMPPConnection.java
index 6390f1683..10f567f21 100644
--- a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/XMPPConnection.java
+++ b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/XMPPConnection.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import java.net.UnknownHostException;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArraySet;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 
 /**
  * Creates a connection to a XMPP server. A simple use of this API might
@@ -91,6 +92,10 @@ public class XMPPConnection {
     private final static Set<ConnectionCreationListener> connectionEstablishedListeners =
             new CopyOnWriteArraySet<ConnectionCreationListener>();
 
+    // Counter to uniquely identify connections that are created. This is distinct from the
+    // connection ID, which is a value sent by the server once a connection is made.
+    private static AtomicInteger connectionCounter = new AtomicInteger(0);
+
     static {
         // Use try block since we may not have permission to get a system
         // property (for example, when an applet).
@@ -121,6 +126,7 @@ public class XMPPConnection {
      */
     String serviceName;
 
+    int connectionCounterValue = connectionCounter.getAndIncrement();
     String connectionID = null;
     private String user = null;
     private boolean connected = false;