diff -u b/core/modules/field/field.crud.inc b/core/modules/field/field.crud.inc
--- b/core/modules/field/field.crud.inc
+++ b/core/modules/field/field.crud.inc
@@ -169,10 +169,13 @@
     // Conditions.
     foreach ($params as $key => $value) {
       if ($key == 'storage.active') {
-        $checked_value = $field['storage']['active'];
+        $checked_value = $field->storage['active'];
+      }
+      elseif ($key == 'field_name') {
+        $checked_value = $field->id;
       }
       else {
-        $checked_value = $field[$key];
+        $checked_value = $field->$key;
       }
       if ($checked_value != $value) {
         continue 2;
@@ -182,11 +185,8 @@
     // Invoke read field.
     module_invoke_all('field_read_field', $field);
 
-    $field_name = $field['field_name'];
-    if ($include_deleted) {
-      $field_name = $field['uuid'];
-    }
-    $fields[$field_name] = $field;
+    $key = $include_deleted ? $field->uuid : $field->id;
+    $fields[$key] = $field;
   }
   return $fields;
 }
diff -u b/core/modules/field/field.install b/core/modules/field/field.install
--- b/core/modules/field/field.install
+++ b/core/modules/field/field.install
@@ -361,7 +361,6 @@
     $config = array(
       'id' => $field['field_name'],
       'uuid' => $uuid->generate(),
-      'field_name' => $field['field_name'],
       'type' => $field['type'],
       'module' => $field['module'],
       'active' => $field['active'],
@@ -408,8 +407,7 @@
     $config = array(
       'id' => $instance['entity_type'] . '.' . $instance['bundle'] . '.' . $instance['field_name'],
       'uuid' => $uuid->generate(),
-      'field_id' => $field_uuids[$instance['field_id']],
-      'field_name' => $instance['field_name'],
+      'field_uuid' => $field_uuids[$instance['field_id']],
       'entity_type' => $instance['entity_type'],
       'bundle' => $instance['bundle'],
       'label' => $instance['data']['label'],
@@ -437,7 +435,7 @@
     // Update file_usage table in case this instance has a default image.
     if (!empty($config['settings']['default_image'])) {
       db_update('file_usage')
-        ->fields(array('id' => $config['field_id']))
+        ->fields(array('id' => $config['field_uuid']))
         ->condition('fid', $config['settings']['default_image'])
         ->execute();
     }
diff -u b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
--- b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
@@ -146,18 +146,19 @@
     foreach (config_get_storage_names_with_prefix('field.field') as $config_id) {
       $field_config = config($config_id)->get();
       if ($field_config['active'] && $field_config['storage']['active']) {
-        $fields[$field_config['field_name']] = $field_config;
+        $fields[$field_config['uuid']] = $field_config;
       }
     }
     // Get field instances.
     foreach (config_get_storage_names_with_prefix('field.instance') as $config_id) {
       $instance_config = config($config_id)->get();
-      $field_name = $instance_config['field_name'];
+      $field_uuid = $instance_config['field_uuid'];
       // Filter out instances of inactive fields, and instances on unknown
       // entity types.
-      if (isset($fields[$field_name])) {
-        $map[$field_name]['bundles'][$instance_config['entity_type']][] = $instance_config['bundle'];
-        $map[$field_name]['type'] = $fields[$field_name]['type'];
+      if (isset($fields[$field_uuid])) {
+        $field = $fields[$field_uuid];
+        $map[$field['id']]['bundles'][$instance_config['entity_type']][] = $instance_config['bundle'];
+        $map[$field['id']]['type'] = $field['type'];
       }
     }
 
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@
     // Fill the name/ID map.
     foreach ($this->fieldsById as $field) {
       if (!$field['deleted']) {
-        $this->fieldIdsByName[$field['field_name']] = $field['uuid'];
+        $this->fieldIdsByName[$field['id']] = $field['uuid'];
       }
     }
 
diff -u b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/Field.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/Field.php
--- b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/Field.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/Field.php
@@ -48,13 +48,6 @@
   public $uuid;
 
   /**
-   * The field name.
-   *
-   * @var string
-   */
-  public $field_name;
-
-  /**
    * The field type.
    *
    * @var string
@@ -153,15 +146,18 @@
     if (empty($values['type'])) {
       throw new FieldException('Attempt to create a field with no type.');
     }
-    if (empty($values['field_name'])) {
+    // Temporary BC layer: accept both 'id' and 'field_name'.
+    if (empty($values['field_name']) && empty($values['id'])) {
       throw new FieldException('Attempt to create an unnamed field.');
     }
-    if (!preg_match('/^[_a-z]+[_a-z0-9]*$/', $values['field_name'])) {
+    if (empty($values['id'])) {
+      $values['id'] = $values['field_name'];
+      unset($values['field_name']);
+    }
+    if (!preg_match('/^[_a-z]+[_a-z0-9]*$/', $values['id'])) {
       throw new FieldException('Attempt to create a field with invalid characters. Only lowercase alphanumeric characters and underscores are allowed, and only lowercase letters and underscore are allowed as the first character');
     }
 
-    $this->id = $values['field_name'];
-
     // Provide defaults.
     $values += array(
       'settings' => array(),
@@ -185,7 +181,6 @@
       'uuid',
       'status',
       'langcode',
-      'field_name',
       'type',
       'settings',
       'module',
@@ -218,24 +213,24 @@
       // Field name cannot be longer than 32 characters. We use drupal_strlen()
       // because the DB layer assumes that column widths are given in characters,
       // not bytes.
-      if (drupal_strlen($this->field_name) > 32) {
-        throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create a field with a name longer than 32 characters: %name', array('%name' => $this->field_name)));
+      if (drupal_strlen($this->id) > 32) {
+        throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create a field with an ID longer than 32 characters: %id', array('%id' => $this->id)));
       }
 
       // Ensure the field name is unique (we do not care about deleted fields).
       if ($prior_field = current($storage_controller->load(array($this->id)))) {
         $message = $prior_field->active ?
-          'Attempt to create field name %name which already exists and is active.' :
-          'Attempt to create field name %name which already exists, although it is inactive.';
-        throw new FieldException(format_string($message, array('%name' => $this->field_name)));
+          'Attempt to create field name %id which already exists and is active.' :
+          'Attempt to create field name %id which already exists, although it is inactive.';
+        throw new FieldException(format_string($message, array('%id' => $this->id)));
       }
 
       // Disallow reserved field names. This can't prevent all field name
       // collisions with existing entity properties, but some is better
       // than none.
       foreach (\Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity')->getDefinitions() as $type => $info) {
-        if (in_array($this->field_name, $info['entity_keys'])) {
-          throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create field name %name which is reserved by entity type %type.', array('%name' => $this->field_name, '%type' => $type)));
+        if (in_array($this->id, $info['entity_keys'])) {
+          throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create field %id which is reserved by entity type %type.', array('%id' => $this->id, '%type' => $type)));
         }
       }
 
@@ -324,7 +319,7 @@
       $instance_ids = array();
       foreach ($this->getBundles() as $entity_type => $bundles) {
         foreach ($bundles as $bundle) {
-          $instance_ids[] = "$entity_type.$bundle.$this->field_name";
+          $instance_ids[] = "$entity_type.$bundle.$this->id";
         }
       }
       foreach ($instance_controller->load($instance_ids) as $instance) {
@@ -402,8 +397,8 @@
   public function getBundles() {
     if (empty($this->deleted)) {
       $map = field_info_field_map();
-      if (isset($map[$this->field_name]['bundles'])) {
-        return $map[$this->field_name]['bundles'];
+      if (isset($map[$this->id]['bundles'])) {
+        return $map[$this->id]['bundles'];
       }
     }
     return array();
@@ -421,6 +416,12 @@
    */
   public function &offsetGet($offset) {
     switch ($offset) {
+      case 'id':
+        return $this->uuid;
+
+      case 'field_name':
+        return $this->id;
+
       case 'columns':
         $this->getSchema();
         return $this->schema['columns'];
diff -u b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/FieldInstance.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/FieldInstance.php
--- b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/FieldInstance.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Core/Entity/FieldInstance.php
@@ -38,25 +38,26 @@
   public $id;
 
   /**
-   * The field UUID.
+   * The instance UUID.
    *
    * @var string
    */
   public $uuid;
 
   /**
-   * The field name.
+   * The field UUID.
    *
    * @var string
    */
-  public $field_name;
+  public $field_uuid;
 
   /**
-   * The instance field id.
+   * The field name.
+   * @todo Revisit that in favor of a getField() method.
    *
    * @var string
    */
-  public $field_id;
+  public $field_name;
 
   /**
    * The instance entity type.
@@ -140,9 +141,6 @@
    */
   public function __construct(array $values, $entity_type) {
     // Check required properties.
-    if (empty($values['field_name'])) {
-      throw new FieldException('Attempt to create an instance of an unspecified field.');
-    }
     if (empty($values['entity_type'])) {
       throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create an instance of field @field_name without an entity type.', array('@field_name' => $values['field_name'])));
     }
@@ -150,6 +148,33 @@
       throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create an instance of field @field_name without a bundle.', array('@field_name' => $values['field_name'])));
     }
 
+    // Accept incoming 'field_name' instead of 'field_uuid', for easier DX on
+    // creation of new instances.
+    if (isset($values['field_name']) && !isset($values['field_uuid'])) {
+      $field = field_info_field($values['field_name']);
+      if ($field) {
+        $values['field_uuid'] = $field->uuid;
+      }
+      else {
+        throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create an instance of unknown, disabled or deleted field @name', array('@name' => $values['field_name'])));
+      }
+    }
+    // Fill in the field_name property for data coming out of config.
+    // @todo Revisit that in favor of a getField() method.
+    elseif (isset($values['field_uuid']) && !isset($values['field_name'])) {
+      $field = current(field_read_fields(array('uuid' => $values['field_uuid']), array('include_inactive' => TRUE, 'include_deleted' => TRUE)));
+      if ($field) {
+        $values['field_name'] = $field->id;
+      }
+      else {
+        throw new FieldException(format_string('Attempt to create an instance of unknown field @uuid', array('@uuid' => $values['field_uuid'])));
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (empty($values['field_uuid'])) {
+      throw new FieldException('Attempt to create an instance of an unspecified field.');
+    }
+
     // Provide defaults.
     $values += array(
       'label' => $values['field_name'],
@@ -173,8 +198,7 @@
       'uuid',
       'status',
       'langcode',
-      'field_name',
-      'field_id',
+      'field_uuid',
       'entity_type',
       'bundle',
       'label',
@@ -205,7 +229,7 @@
 
     if ($this->isNew()) {
       if (empty($field)) {
-        throw new FieldException(format_string("Attempt to save an instance of a field @field_name that doesn't exist or is currently inactive.", array('@field_name' => $this->field_name)));
+        throw new FieldException(format_string("Attempt to save an instance of a field @field_id that doesn't exist or is currently inactive.", array('@field_name' => $this->field_name)));
       }
       // Check that the field can be attached to this entity type.
       if (!empty($field->entity_types) && !in_array($this->entity_type, $field->entity_types)) {
@@ -221,7 +245,7 @@
       }
 
       // Set the field uuid.
-      $this->field_id = $field->uuid;
+      $this->field_uuid = $field->uuid;
 
       $hook = 'field_create_instance';
       $hook_args = array($this);
@@ -238,7 +262,7 @@
       if ($this->bundle != $original->bundle) {
         throw new FieldException("Cannot change an existing instance's bundle.");
       }
-      if ($this->field_name != $original->field_name || $this->field_id != $original->field_id) {
+      if ($this->field_name != $original->field_name || $this->field_uuid != $original->field_uuid) {
         throw new FieldException("Cannot change an existing instance's field.");
       }
 
@@ -330,7 +354,7 @@
       $context = array(
         'entity_type' => $this->entity_type,
         'bundle' => $this->bundle,
-        'field' => field_info_field($this->field_name),
+        'field' => field_info_field_by_id($this->field_uuid),
         'instance' => $this,
       );
       drupal_alter(array('field_widget_properties', 'field_widget_properties_' . $this->entity_type), $widget_properties, $context);
@@ -351,13 +375,16 @@
    * Implements ArrayAccess::offsetExists().
    */
   public function offsetExists($offset) {
-    return isset($this->{$offset});
+    return (isset($this->{$offset}) || $offset == 'field_id');
   }
 
   /**
    * Implements ArrayAccess::offsetGet().
    */
   public function &offsetGet($offset) {
+    if ($offset == 'field_id') {
+      return $this->field_uuid;
+    }
     return $this->{$offset};
   }
 
@@ -365,6 +392,9 @@
    * Implements ArrayAccess::offsetSet().
    */
   public function offsetSet($offset, $value) {
+    if ($offset == 'field_id') {
+      $offset = 'field_uuid';
+    }
     $this->{$offset} = $value;
   }
 
@@ -372,6 +402,9 @@
    * Implements ArrayAccess::offsetUnset().
    */
   public function offsetUnset($offset) {
+    if ($offset == 'field_id') {
+      $offset = 'field_uuid';
+    }
     unset($this->{$offset});
   }
 
diff -u b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.field.field_test_import.yml b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.field.field_test_import.yml
--- b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.field.field_test_import.yml
+++ b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.field.field_test_import.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: field_test_import
 uuid: fb38277f-1fd4-49d5-8d09-9d7037fdcce9
 langcode: und
-field_name: field_test_import
 type: text
 settings:
   max_length: '255'
diff -u b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import.yml b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import.yml
--- b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import.yml
+++ b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/config/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 id: test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import
 uuid: 392b4e9d-6157-412e-9603-3d622512f498
 langcode: und
-field_name: field_test_import
-field_id: fb38277f-1fd4-49d5-8d09-9d7037fdcce9
+field_uuid: fb38277f-1fd4-49d5-8d09-9d7037fdcce9
 entity_type: test_entity
 bundle: test_bundle
 label: 'Test import field'
diff -u b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.field.field_test_import_staging.yml b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.field.field_test_import_staging.yml
--- b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.field.field_test_import_staging.yml
+++ b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.field.field_test_import_staging.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: field_test_import_staging
 uuid: 0bf654cc-f14a-4881-b94c-76959e47466b
 langcode: und
-field_name: field_test_import_staging
 type: text
 settings:
   max_length: '255'
diff -u b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import_staging.yml b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import_staging.yml
--- b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import_staging.yml
+++ b/core/modules/field/tests/modules/field_test_config/staging/field.instance.test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import_staging.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 id: test_entity.test_bundle.field_test_import_staging
 uuid: ea711065-6940-47cd-813d-618f64095481
 langcode: und
-field_name: field_test_import_staging
-field_id: 0bf654cc-f14a-4881-b94c-76959e47466b
+field_uuid: 0bf654cc-f14a-4881-b94c-76959e47466b
 entity_type: test_entity
 bundle: test_bundle
 label: 'Import from staging'