diff --git a/openstack/networking/v2/extensions/security/groups/requests.go b/openstack/networking/v2/extensions/security/groups/requests.go
index 55e4b3b..b55fb5d 100644
--- a/openstack/networking/v2/extensions/security/groups/requests.go
+++ b/openstack/networking/v2/extensions/security/groups/requests.go
@@ -91,3 +91,36 @@
 	_, res.Err = c.Delete(resourceURL(c, id), nil)
 	return res
 }
+
+// IDFromName is a convenience function that returns a security group's ID given its name.
+func IDFromName(client *gophercloud.ServiceClient, name string) (string, error) {
+	securityGroupCount := 0
+	securityGroupID := ""
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("A security group name must be provided.")
+	}
+	pager := List(client, ListOpts{})
+	pager.EachPage(func(page pagination.Page) (bool, error) {
+		securityGroupList, err := ExtractGroups(page)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		for _, s := range securityGroupList {
+			if s.Name == name {
+				securityGroupCount++
+				securityGroupID = s.ID
+			}
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	})
+
+	switch securityGroupCount {
+	case 0:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Unable to find security group: %s", name)
+	case 1:
+		return securityGroupID, nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Found %d security groups matching %s", securityGroupCount, name)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/openstack/networking/v2/networks/requests.go b/openstack/networking/v2/networks/requests.go
index 7be3227..25ab7a8 100644
--- a/openstack/networking/v2/networks/requests.go
+++ b/openstack/networking/v2/networks/requests.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package networks
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud"
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud/pagination"
 )
@@ -189,3 +191,36 @@
 	_, res.Err = c.Delete(deleteURL(c, networkID), nil)
 	return res
 }
+
+// IDFromName is a convenience function that returns a network's ID given its name.
+func IDFromName(client *gophercloud.ServiceClient, name string) (string, error) {
+	networkCount := 0
+	networkID := ""
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("A network name must be provided.")
+	}
+	pager := List(client, nil)
+	pager.EachPage(func(page pagination.Page) (bool, error) {
+		networkList, err := ExtractNetworks(page)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		for _, n := range networkList {
+			if n.Name == name {
+				networkCount++
+				networkID = n.ID
+			}
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	})
+
+	switch networkCount {
+	case 0:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Unable to find network: %s", name)
+	case 1:
+		return networkID, nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Found %d networks matching %s", networkCount, name)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/openstack/networking/v2/ports/requests.go b/openstack/networking/v2/ports/requests.go
index 781a3c3..2caf1ca 100644
--- a/openstack/networking/v2/ports/requests.go
+++ b/openstack/networking/v2/ports/requests.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package ports
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud"
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud/pagination"
 )
@@ -223,3 +225,36 @@
 	_, res.Err = c.Delete(deleteURL(c, id), nil)
 	return res
 }
+
+// IDFromName is a convenience function that returns a port's ID given its name.
+func IDFromName(client *gophercloud.ServiceClient, name string) (string, error) {
+	portCount := 0
+	portID := ""
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("A port name must be provided.")
+	}
+	pager := List(client, nil)
+	pager.EachPage(func(page pagination.Page) (bool, error) {
+		portList, err := ExtractPorts(page)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		for _, p := range portList {
+			if p.Name == name {
+				portCount++
+				portID = p.ID
+			}
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	})
+
+	switch portCount {
+	case 0:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Unable to find port: %s", name)
+	case 1:
+		return portID, nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Found %d ports matching %s", portCount, name)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/openstack/networking/v2/subnets/requests.go b/openstack/networking/v2/subnets/requests.go
index 6e01f05..2368bf5 100644
--- a/openstack/networking/v2/subnets/requests.go
+++ b/openstack/networking/v2/subnets/requests.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package subnets
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud"
 	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud/pagination"
 )
@@ -234,3 +236,36 @@
 	_, res.Err = c.Delete(deleteURL(c, id), nil)
 	return res
 }
+
+// IDFromName is a convenience function that returns a subnet's ID given its name.
+func IDFromName(client *gophercloud.ServiceClient, name string) (string, error) {
+	subnetCount := 0
+	subnetID := ""
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("A subnet name must be provided.")
+	}
+	pager := List(client, nil)
+	pager.EachPage(func(page pagination.Page) (bool, error) {
+		subnetList, err := ExtractSubnets(page)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		for _, s := range subnetList {
+			if s.Name == name {
+				subnetCount++
+				subnetID = s.ID
+			}
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	})
+
+	switch subnetCount {
+	case 0:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Unable to find subnet: %s", name)
+	case 1:
+		return subnetID, nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("Found %d subnets matching %s", subnetCount, name)
+	}
+}