diff --git a/mongoengine/base.py b/mongoengine/base.py
index 1ca1680a..d50cf955 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class BaseField(object):
 
     def __init__(self, db_field=None, name=None, required=False, default=None,
                  unique=False, unique_with=None, primary_key=False,
-                 validation=None, choices=None):
+                 validation=None, choices=None, verbose_name=None, help_text=None):
         self.db_field = (db_field or name) if not primary_key else '_id'
         if name:
             import warnings
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ class BaseField(object):
         self.primary_key = primary_key
         self.validation = validation
         self.choices = choices
+        self.verbose_name = verbose_name
+        self.help_text = help_text
 
         # Adjust the appropriate creation counter, and save our local copy.
         if self.db_field == '_id':
diff --git a/tests/fields.py b/tests/fields.py
index 773ba93c..c13f9e34 100644
--- a/tests/fields.py
+++ b/tests/fields.py
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ class FieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
         """
         class Person(Document):
             name = StringField()
-            age = IntField(default=30)
-            userid = StringField(default=lambda: 'test')
+            age = IntField(default=30, help_text="Your real age")
+            userid = StringField(default=lambda: 'test', verbose_name="User Identity")
 
         person = Person(name='Test Person')
         self.assertEqual(person._data['age'], 30)
         self.assertEqual(person._data['userid'], 'test')
+        self.assertEqual(person._fields['name'].help_text, None)
+        self.assertEqual(person._fields['age'].help_text, "Your real age")
+        self.assertEqual(person._fields['userid'].verbose_name, "User Identity")
 
     def test_required_values(self):
         """Ensure that required field constraints are enforced.