diff --git a/tests/rules/test_key_ordering.py b/tests/rules/test_key_ordering.py
index 7d17603e..ddedcf8a 100644
--- a/tests/rules/test_key_ordering.py
+++ b/tests/rules/test_key_ordering.py
@@ -147,3 +147,25 @@ def test_locale_accents(self):
                    'hais: true\n'
                    'haïr: true\n', conf,
                    problem=(3, 1))
+
+    def test_ignored_keys(self):
+        conf = ('key-ordering:\n'
+                '  ignored-keys: ["n(a|o)me", "^b"]\n')
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'a:\n'
+                   'b:\n'
+                   'c:\n'
+                   'name: ignored\n'
+                   'first-name: ignored\n'
+                   'nome: ignored\n'
+                   'gnomes: ignored\n'
+                   'd:\n'
+                   'e:\n'
+                   'boat: ignored\n'
+                   '.boat: ERROR\n'
+                   'call: ERROR\n'
+                   'f:\n'
+                   'g:\n',
+                   conf,
+                   problem1=(12, 1),
+                   problem2=(13, 1))
diff --git a/yamllint/rules/key_ordering.py b/yamllint/rules/key_ordering.py
index ec0716d9..ee1408e6 100644
--- a/yamllint/rules/key_ordering.py
+++ b/yamllint/rules/key_ordering.py
@@ -19,6 +19,21 @@
 ordering is case-sensitive and not accent-friendly (see examples below).
 This can be changed by setting the global ``locale`` option.  This allows one
 to sort case and accents properly.
+It also allows one to ignore certain keys by setting the ``ignored-keys``
+(PCRE regexes list) option.
+
+.. rubric:: Options
+
+* ``ignored-keys`` is a list of PCRE regexes defining a set of keys to be
+  ignored while ordering, if they match any regex. Default is an empty list.
+
+.. rubric:: Default values (when enabled)
+
+.. code-block:: yaml
+
+ rules:
+   key-ordering:
+     ignored-keys: []
 
 .. rubric:: Examples
 
@@ -78,8 +93,21 @@
       haïr: true
       hais: true
       haïssable: true
+
+#. With rule ``key-ordering: {ignored-keys: ["name"]}``
+
+   the following code snippet would **PASS**:
+   ::
+
+    - a:
+      b:
+      name: ignored
+      first-name: ignored
+      c:
+      d:
 """
 
+import re
 from locale import strcoll
 
 import yaml
@@ -89,6 +117,8 @@
 ID = 'key-ordering'
 TYPE = 'token'
 
+CONF = {'ignored-keys': [str]}
+DEFAULT = {'ignored-keys': []}
 MAP, SEQ = range(2)
 
 
@@ -116,7 +146,9 @@ def check(conf, token, prev, next, nextnext, context):
           isinstance(next, yaml.ScalarToken)):
         # This check is done because KeyTokens can be found inside flow
         # sequences... strange, but allowed.
-        if len(context['stack']) > 0 and context['stack'][-1].type == MAP:
+        if (len(context['stack']) > 0 and context['stack'][-1].type == MAP and
+                not any(re.search(r, next.value)
+                        for r in conf['ignored-keys'])):
             if any(strcoll(next.value, key) < 0
                    for key in context['stack'][-1].keys):
                 yield LintProblem(