diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/annotation/RelatedTo.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/annotation/RelatedTo.java
index 0069041f3..315a81ba7 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/annotation/RelatedTo.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/annotation/RelatedTo.java
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@
 
 package org.springframework.data.graph.annotation;
 
+import org.springframework.data.graph.core.Direction;
+import org.springframework.data.graph.core.NodeBacked;
+
 import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 
-import org.springframework.data.graph.core.Direction;
-import org.springframework.data.graph.core.NodeBacked;
-
 /**
  * Annotation for {@link org.springframework.data.graph.annotation.NodeEntity} fields that relate to other entities via
  * relationships. Works for one-to-one and one-to-many relationships. It is optionally possible to define the relationship type,
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ import org.springframework.data.graph.core.NodeBacked;
  *
  * Collection based one-to-many relationships return managed collections that reflect addition and removal to the underlying relationships.
  *
+ * Examples:
  * <pre>
- * &#64;RelatedTo([type=&quot;friends&quot;], elementClass=Person.class)
+ * &#64;RelatedTo(elementClass=Person.class)
  * Collection&lt;Person&gt; friends;
- * &#64;RelatedTo([type=&quot;spouse&quot;], [elementClass=Person.class])
+ * &#64;RelatedTo(type=&quot;partner&quot;)
  * Person spouse;
  * </pre>
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ public @interface RelatedTo {
     /**
      * @return name of the relationship type, optional, can be inferred from the field name
      */
-    String type();
+    String type() default "";
 
     /**
      * @return direction for the relationship, by default outgoing
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/NodeRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/NodeRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
index 825cc9ce8..f3303f71c 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/NodeRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/NodeRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ abstract class NodeRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory implements FieldAccessorFact
         return DynamicRelationshipType.withName(relAnnotation.type());
     }
 
+    protected DynamicRelationshipType typeFrom(Field field, RelatedTo relAnnotation) {
+	    return "".equals(relAnnotation.type()) ? typeFrom(field) : typeFrom(relAnnotation);
+    }
+
     protected RelatedTo getRelationshipAnnotation(Field field) {
         return field.getAnnotation(RelatedTo.class);
     }
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
index 94b274c34..f085d7b19 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory extends NodeRelationshipFiel
 	@Override
 	public FieldAccessor<NodeBacked> forField(final Field field) {
 	    final RelatedTo relAnnotation = getRelationshipAnnotation(field);
-	    return new OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(relAnnotation), graphDatabaseContext);
+	    return new OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(field, relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(relAnnotation), graphDatabaseContext);
 	}
 
 	public static class OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor extends NodeToNodesRelationshipFieldAccessor<NodeBacked> {
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
index 70e3c1ace..8c4379108 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public class ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory extends NodeRelation
 	@Override
 	public FieldAccessor<NodeBacked> forField(final Field field) {
 	    final RelatedTo relAnnotation = getRelationshipAnnotation(field);
-	    return new ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(relAnnotation), graphDatabaseContext);
+	    return new ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(field, relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(relAnnotation), graphDatabaseContext);
 	}
 
 	public static class ReadOnlyOneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor extends OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.OneToNRelationshipFieldAccessor {
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/SingleRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/SingleRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
index 54ae107bd..7d97b2565 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/SingleRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/fieldaccess/SingleRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import org.springframework.data.graph.core.NodeBacked;
 import org.springframework.data.graph.neo4j.support.GraphDatabaseContext;
 
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
-import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ public class SingleRelationshipFieldAccessorFactory extends NodeRelationshipFiel
 	    final RelatedTo relAnnotation = getRelationshipAnnotation(field);
 	    if (relAnnotation == null)
 	        return new SingleRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(field), Direction.OUTGOING, targetFrom(field), graphDatabaseContext);
-	    return new SingleRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(field), graphDatabaseContext);
+	    return new SingleRelationshipFieldAccessor(typeFrom(field, relAnnotation), dirFrom(relAnnotation), targetFrom(field), graphDatabaseContext);
 	}
 
 	public static class SingleRelationshipFieldAccessor extends NodeToNodesRelationshipFieldAccessor<NodeBacked> {
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Group.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Group.java
index a5511d84b..db7ecadf3 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Group.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Group.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public class Group {
     public final static String OTHER_NAME_INDEX="other_name";
     public static final String SEARCH_GROUPS_INDEX = "search-groups";
 
-    @RelatedTo(type = "persons", direction = Direction.OUTGOING, elementClass = Person.class)
+    @RelatedTo(direction = Direction.OUTGOING, elementClass = Person.class)
     private Collection<Person> persons;
 
     @RelatedTo(type = "persons", elementClass = Person.class)
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Person.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Person.java
index b250a2ae2..c7c33ff62 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Person.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/Person.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class Person {
 
 	private Car car;
 
-	@RelatedTo(type = "mother", direction = Direction.OUTGOING)
+	@RelatedTo
 	private Person mother;
 
 	@RelatedTo(type = "boss", direction = Direction.INCOMING)
diff --git a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/support/NodeEntityRelationshipTest.java b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/support/NodeEntityRelationshipTest.java
index e1b022667..2f77f4bb4 100644
--- a/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/support/NodeEntityRelationshipTest.java
+++ b/spring-data-neo4j/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/graph/neo4j/support/NodeEntityRelationshipTest.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class NodeEntityRelationshipTest {
         Person p = persistedPerson("Michael", 35);
         Person mother = persistedPerson("Gabi", 60);
         p.setMother(mother);
-        Node motherNode = p.getPersistentState().getSingleRelationship(DynamicRelationshipType.withName("mother"), Direction.OUTGOING).getEndNode();
+        Node motherNode = p.getPersistentState().getSingleRelationship(DynamicRelationshipType.withName("Person.mother"), Direction.OUTGOING).getEndNode();
         assertEquals(mother.getPersistentState(), motherNode);
         assertEquals(mother, p.getMother());
     }