diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl.py b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl.py
index d10cc73fb..2f264103a 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl.py
@@ -144,6 +144,25 @@ def material_operators(self) -> MaterialOperators:
         """Material operators."""
         return self._material_operators
 
+    @property
+    def material_names(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
+        """
+        Material name to DPF material ID map.
+
+        Can be used to filter analysis plies or element layers.
+        """
+        helper_op = dpf.Operator("composite::materials_container_helper")
+        helper_op.inputs.materials_container(self._material_operators.material_provider.outputs)
+        string_field = helper_op.outputs.material_names()
+        material_ids = string_field.scoping.ids
+
+        names = {}
+        for mat_id in material_ids:
+            names[string_field.data[string_field.scoping.index(mat_id)]] = mat_id
+
+        return names
+
+
     @_deprecated_composite_definition_label
     def get_mesh(self, composite_definition_label: Optional[str] = None) -> MeshedRegion:
         """Get the underlying DPF meshed region.
diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl_2023r2.py b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl_2023r2.py
index bd5f3c4d4..c6515063d 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl_2023r2.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/_composite_model_impl_2023r2.py
@@ -193,6 +193,15 @@ def material_operators(self) -> MaterialOperators:
         """Material operators."""
         return self._material_operators
 
+    @property
+    def material_names(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
+        """Material ID to name map"""
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            "material_names is not implemented"
+            " for this version of DPF. Please upgrade to 7.0 (2024 R1)"
+            " or later."
+        )
+
     def get_layup_operator(self, composite_definition_label: Optional[str] = None) -> Operator:
         """Get the lay-up operator.
 
diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/composite_model.py b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/composite_model.py
index 5e4bb49b1..06a17b9da 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/composites/composite_model.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/composites/composite_model.py
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ def material_operators(self) -> MaterialOperators:
         """Material operators."""
         return self._implementation.material_operators
 
+    @property
+    def material_names(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
+        """Material ID to name map"""
+        return self._implementation.material_names
+
     def get_mesh(self, composite_definition_label: Optional[str] = None) -> MeshedRegion:
         """Get the underlying DPF meshed region.