diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index df6e8d8..0d121d5 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@
                             payload_state_unittest.cc
                             policy_manager/generic_variables_unittest.cc
                             policy_manager/random_provider_unittest.cc
+                            policy_manager/variable_unittest.cc
                             postinstall_runner_action_unittest.cc
                             prefs_unittest.cc
                             simple_key_value_store_unittest.cc
diff --git a/policy_manager/generic_variables.h b/policy_manager/generic_variables.h
index 32ea1b9..87ba066 100644
--- a/policy_manager/generic_variables.h
+++ b/policy_manager/generic_variables.h
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
   // Creates the variable returning copies of the passed |obj| reference. The
   // reference to this object is kept and it should be available whenever the
   // GetValue() method is called.
-  CopyVariable(const T& ref) : ref_(ref) {};
+  CopyVariable(const std::string& name, const T& ref)
+      : Variable<T>(name), ref_(ref) {}
 
  protected:
   friend class PmCopyVariableTest;
diff --git a/policy_manager/generic_variables_unittest.cc b/policy_manager/generic_variables_unittest.cc
index 14b40d3..15ea3d7 100644
--- a/policy_manager/generic_variables_unittest.cc
+++ b/policy_manager/generic_variables_unittest.cc
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 TEST(PmCopyVariableTest, SimpleTest) {
   int obj_int = 5;
 
-  CopyVariable<int> var(obj_int);
+  CopyVariable<int> var("var", obj_int);
 
   string errmsg = "Nope";
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
   ASSERT_FALSE(obj.copied_);
 
   string errmsg;
-  CopyVariable<ConstructorTestClass> var(obj);
+  CopyVariable<ConstructorTestClass> var("var", obj);
   const ConstructorTestClass* value =
       var.GetValue(TimeDelta::FromSeconds(1), &errmsg);
   EXPECT_NE(value, static_cast<void*>(NULL));
diff --git a/policy_manager/random_provider.cc b/policy_manager/random_provider.cc
index 73caa04..8359c44 100644
--- a/policy_manager/random_provider.cc
+++ b/policy_manager/random_provider.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
 // The random variable class implementation.
 class RandomVariable : public Variable<uint64_t> {
  public:
-  RandomVariable(FILE* fp) : fp_(fp) {}
+  RandomVariable(const string& name, FILE* fp)
+      : Variable<uint64_t>(name), fp_(fp) {}
   virtual ~RandomVariable() {}
 
  protected:
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@
   FILE* fp = fopen(kRandomDevice, "r");
   if (!fp)
     return false;
-  var_random_seed = new RandomVariable(fp);
+  var_random_seed = new RandomVariable("random_seed", fp);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/policy_manager/variable.h b/policy_manager/variable.h
index 22039c0..9b933d7 100644
--- a/policy_manager/variable.h
+++ b/policy_manager/variable.h
@@ -12,11 +12,30 @@
 
 namespace chromeos_policy_manager {
 
-// Interface to a Policy Manager variable. Implementation internals are hidden
-// as protected members, since policies should not be using them directly.
-template<typename T>
-class Variable {
+// This class is a base class with the common functionality that doesn't
+// deppend on the variable's type, implemented by all the variables.
+class BaseVariable {
  public:
+  BaseVariable(const std::string& name) : name_(name) {}
+  virtual ~BaseVariable() {}
+
+  // Returns the variable name as a string.
+  virtual const std::string& GetName() {
+    return name_;
+  }
+
+ private:
+  // The variable's name as a string.
+  const std::string name_;
+};
+
+// Interface to a Policy Manager variable of a given type. Implementation
+// internals are hidden as protected members, since policies should not be
+// using them directly.
+template<typename T>
+class Variable : public BaseVariable {
+ public:
+  Variable(const std::string& name) : BaseVariable(name) {}
   virtual ~Variable() {}
 
  protected:
diff --git a/policy_manager/variable_unittest.cc b/policy_manager/variable_unittest.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4aa084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/policy_manager/variable_unittest.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2014 The Chromium OS Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include "policy_manager/variable.h"
+
+using std::string;
+
+namespace chromeos_policy_manager {
+
+// Variable class that returns a value constructed with the default value.
+template <typename T>
+class DefaultVariable : public Variable<T> {
+ public:
+  DefaultVariable(const string& name) : Variable<T>(name) {}
+  virtual ~DefaultVariable() {}
+
+ protected:
+  virtual const T* GetValue(base::TimeDelta /* timeout */,
+                            string* /* errmsg */) {
+    return new T();
+  }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(DefaultVariable);
+};
+
+TEST(PmBaseVariableTest, GetNameTest) {
+  DefaultVariable<int> var("var");
+  EXPECT_EQ(var.GetName(), string("var"));
+}
+
+}  // namespace chromeos_policy_manager