diff --git a/include/wx/docview.h b/include/wx/docview.h
index f69745552d..3a4d899eeb 100644
--- a/include/wx/docview.h
+++ b/include/wx/docview.h
@@ -141,8 +141,22 @@ public:
     virtual void SetDocumentTemplate(wxDocTemplate *temp) { m_documentTemplate = temp; }
 
     // Get title, or filename if no title, else [unnamed]
+    //
+    // NB: this method will be deprecated in wxWidgets 3.0, you still need to
+    //     override it if you need to modify the existing behaviour in this
+    //     version but use GetUserReadableName() below if you just need to call
+    //     it
     virtual bool GetPrintableName(wxString& buf) const;
 
+#if wxABI_VERSION >= 20805
+    wxString GetUserReadableName() const
+    {
+        wxString s;
+        GetPrintableName(s);
+        return s;
+    }
+#endif // wxABI 2.8.5+
+
     // Returns a window that can be used as a parent for document-related
     // dialogs. Override if necessary.
     virtual wxWindow *GetDocumentWindow() const;
diff --git a/version-script.in b/version-script.in
index 4f83eec356..a2959fbcdf 100644
--- a/version-script.in
+++ b/version-script.in
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 # public symbols added in 2.8.5 (please keep in alphabetical order):
 @WX_VERSION_TAG@.5 {
     global:
+        *wxDocument*GetUserReadableName*;
         *wxMetafileDC*DoGetTextExtent*;
 };