diff --git a/src/backup.rs b/src/backup.rs
index 047f4fd..e55c8ee 100644
--- a/src/backup.rs
+++ b/src/backup.rs
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.step(-1).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42, the_answer);
 
         src.execute_batch("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(43)").unwrap();
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.run_to_completion(5, Duration::from_millis(250), None).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42 + 43, the_answer);
     }
 
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.step(-1).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42, the_answer);
 
         src.execute_batch("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(43)").unwrap();
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.run_to_completion(5, Duration::from_millis(250), None).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42 + 43, the_answer);
     }
 
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.step(-1).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42, the_answer);
 
         src.execute_batch("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(43)").unwrap();
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ mod test {
             backup.run_to_completion(5, Duration::from_millis(250), None).unwrap();
         }
 
-        let the_answer = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0)).unwrap();
+        let the_answer: i64 = dst.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(42 + 43, the_answer);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index 9670800..bf128eb 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ pub enum Error {
     /// for the statement.
     InvalidColumnIndex(c_int),
 
+    /// Error when the value of a named column is requested, but no column matches the name
+    /// for the statement.
+    InvalidColumnName(String),
+
     /// Error when the value of a particular column is requested, but the type of the result in
     /// that column cannot be converted to the requested Rust type.
     InvalidColumnType,
@@ -91,6 +95,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Error {
             &Error::QueryReturnedNoRows => write!(f, "Query returned no rows"),
             &Error::GetFromStaleRow => write!(f, "Attempted to get a value from a stale row"),
             &Error::InvalidColumnIndex(i) => write!(f, "Invalid column index: {}", i),
+            &Error::InvalidColumnName(ref name) => write!(f, "Invalid column name: {}", name),
             &Error::InvalidColumnType => write!(f, "Invalid column type"),
 
             #[cfg(feature = "functions")]
@@ -116,6 +121,7 @@ impl error::Error for Error {
             &Error::QueryReturnedNoRows => "query returned no rows",
             &Error::GetFromStaleRow => "attempted to get a value from a stale row",
             &Error::InvalidColumnIndex(_) => "invalid column index",
+            &Error::InvalidColumnName(_) => "invalid column name",
             &Error::InvalidColumnType => "invalid column type",
 
             #[cfg(feature = "functions")]
@@ -138,6 +144,7 @@ impl error::Error for Error {
             &Error::QueryReturnedNoRows => None,
             &Error::GetFromStaleRow => None,
             &Error::InvalidColumnIndex(_) => None,
+            &Error::InvalidColumnName(_) => None,
             &Error::InvalidColumnType => None,
 
             #[cfg(feature = "functions")]
diff --git a/src/functions.rs b/src/functions.rs
index 1def91c..d9fecb0 100644
--- a/src/functions.rs
+++ b/src/functions.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
 //!     let db = Connection::open_in_memory().unwrap();
 //!     add_regexp_function(&db).unwrap();
 //!
-//!     let is_match = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('[aeiou]*', 'aaaaeeeiii')", &[],
-//!                                 |row| row.get::<bool>(0)).unwrap();
+//!     let is_match: bool = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('[aeiou]*', 'aaaaeeeiii')", &[],
+//!                                 |row| row.get(0)).unwrap();
 //!
 //!     assert!(is_match);
 //! }
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ impl Connection {
     ///         Ok(value / 2f64)
     ///     }));
     ///
-    ///     let six_halved = try!(db.query_row("SELECT halve(6)", &[], |r| r.get::<f64>(0)));
+    ///     let six_halved: f64 = try!(db.query_row("SELECT halve(6)", &[], |r| r.get(0)));
     ///     assert_eq!(six_halved, 3f64);
     ///     Ok(())
     /// }
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ mod test {
     fn test_function_half() {
         let db = Connection::open_in_memory().unwrap();
         db.create_scalar_function("half", 1, true, half).unwrap();
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get::<f64>(0));
+        let result: Result<f64> = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(3f64, result.unwrap());
     }
@@ -494,11 +494,11 @@ mod test {
     fn test_remove_function() {
         let db = Connection::open_in_memory().unwrap();
         db.create_scalar_function("half", 1, true, half).unwrap();
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get::<f64>(0));
+        let result: Result<f64> = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get(0));
         assert_eq!(3f64, result.unwrap());
 
         db.remove_function("half", 1).unwrap();
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get::<f64>(0));
+        let result: Result<f64> = db.query_row("SELECT half(6)", &[], |r| r.get(0));
         assert!(result.is_err());
     }
 
@@ -546,15 +546,15 @@ mod test {
                          END;").unwrap();
         db.create_scalar_function("regexp", 2, true, regexp_with_auxilliary).unwrap();
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', 'lisa')",
+        let result: Result<bool> = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', 'lisa')",
                                   &[],
-                                  |r| r.get::<bool>(0));
+                                  |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(true, result.unwrap());
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM foo WHERE regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', x) == 1",
+        let result: Result<i64> = db.query_row("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM foo WHERE regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', x) == 1",
                                   &[],
-                                  |r| r.get::<i64>(0));
+                                  |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(2, result.unwrap());
     }
@@ -596,15 +596,15 @@ mod test {
             Ok(regex.is_match(&text))
         }).unwrap();
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', 'lisa')",
+        let result: Result<bool> = db.query_row("SELECT regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', 'lisa')",
                                   &[],
-                                  |r| r.get::<bool>(0));
+                                  |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(true, result.unwrap());
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM foo WHERE regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', x) == 1",
+        let result: Result<i64> = db.query_row("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM foo WHERE regexp('l.s[aeiouy]', x) == 1",
                                   &[],
-                                  |r| r.get::<i64>(0));
+                                  |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(2, result.unwrap());
     }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 0b77690..4cde86c 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -728,6 +728,23 @@ impl<'conn> Statement<'conn> {
         cols
     }
 
+    /// Returns the column index in the result set for a given column name.
+    /// If there is no AS clause then the name of the column is unspecified and may change from one release of SQLite to the next.
+    ///
+    /// # Failure
+    /// Will return an `Error::InvalidColumnName` when there is no column with the specified `name`.
+    pub fn column_index(&self, name: &str) -> Result<i32> {
+        let bytes = name.as_bytes();
+        let n = self.column_count;
+        for i in 0..n {
+            let slice = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(ffi::sqlite3_column_name(self.stmt, i)) };
+            if bytes == slice.to_bytes() {
+                return Ok(i);
+            }
+        }
+        Err(Error::InvalidColumnName(String::from(name)))
+    }
+
     /// Execute the prepared statement.
     ///
     /// On success, returns the number of rows that were changed or inserted or deleted (via
@@ -1078,9 +1095,11 @@ impl<'stmt> Row<'stmt> {
     ///
     /// ## Failure
     ///
+    /// Panics if the underlying SQLite column type is not a valid type as a source for `T`.
+    ///
     /// Panics if `idx` is outside the range of columns in the returned query or if this row
     /// is stale.
-    pub fn get<T: FromSql>(&self, idx: c_int) -> T {
+    pub fn get<I: RowIndex, T: FromSql>(&self, idx: I) -> T {
         self.get_checked(idx).unwrap()
     }
 
@@ -1088,19 +1107,22 @@ impl<'stmt> Row<'stmt> {
     ///
     /// ## Failure
     ///
-    /// Returns a `SQLITE_MISMATCH`-coded `Error` if the underlying SQLite column
+    /// Returns an `Error::InvalidColumnType` if the underlying SQLite column
     /// type is not a valid type as a source for `T`.
     ///
-    /// Returns a `SQLITE_MISUSE`-coded `Error` if `idx` is outside the valid column range
-    /// for this row or if this row is stale.
-    pub fn get_checked<T: FromSql>(&self, idx: c_int) -> Result<T> {
+    /// Returns an `Error::InvalidColumnIndex` if `idx` is outside the valid column range
+    /// for this row.
+    ///
+    /// Returns an `Error::InvalidColumnName` if `idx` is not a valid column name
+    /// for this row.
+    ///
+    /// Returns an `Error::GetFromStaleRow` if this row is stale.
+    pub fn get_checked<I: RowIndex, T: FromSql>(&self, idx: I) -> Result<T> {
         if self.row_idx != self.current_row.get() {
             return Err(Error::GetFromStaleRow);
         }
         unsafe {
-            if idx < 0 || idx >= self.stmt.column_count {
-                return Err(Error::InvalidColumnIndex(idx));
-            }
+            let idx = try!(idx.idx(self.stmt));
 
             if T::column_has_valid_sqlite_type(self.stmt.stmt, idx) {
                 FromSql::column_result(self.stmt.stmt, idx)
@@ -1111,6 +1133,31 @@ impl<'stmt> Row<'stmt> {
     }
 }
 
+/// A trait implemented by types that can index into columns of a row.
+pub trait RowIndex {
+    /// Returns the index of the appropriate column, or `None` if no such
+    /// column exists.
+    fn idx(&self, stmt: &Statement) -> Result<i32>;
+}
+
+impl RowIndex for i32 {
+    #[inline]
+    fn idx(&self, stmt: &Statement) -> Result<i32> {
+        if *self < 0 || *self >= stmt.column_count {
+            Err(Error::InvalidColumnIndex(*self))
+        } else {
+            Ok(*self)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> RowIndex for &'a str {
+    #[inline]
+    fn idx(&self, stmt: &Statement) -> Result<i32> {
+        stmt.column_index(*self)
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     extern crate libsqlite3_sys as ffi;
@@ -1149,7 +1196,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let path_string = path.to_str().unwrap();
         let db = Connection::open(&path_string).unwrap();
-        let the_answer = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0));
+        let the_answer: Result<i64> = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0));
 
         assert_eq!(42i64, the_answer.unwrap());
     }
@@ -1306,10 +1353,10 @@ mod test {
         db.execute_batch(sql).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(10i64,
-                   db.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0))
+                   db.query_row("SELECT SUM(x) FROM foo", &[], |r| r.get(0))
                    .unwrap());
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo WHERE x > 5", &[], |r| r.get::<i64>(0));
+        let result: Result<i64> = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM foo WHERE x > 5", &[], |r| r.get(0));
         match result.unwrap_err() {
             Error::QueryReturnedNoRows => (),
             err => panic!("Unexpected error {}", err),
@@ -1343,7 +1390,7 @@ mod test {
 
         assert_eq!(2i32, second.get(0));
 
-        match first.get_checked::<i32>(0).unwrap_err() {
+        match first.get_checked::<i32,i32>(0).unwrap_err() {
             Error::GetFromStaleRow => (),
             err => panic!("Unexpected error {}", err),
         }
diff --git a/src/named_params.rs b/src/named_params.rs
index dc880ca..4f55dd8 100644
--- a/src/named_params.rs
+++ b/src/named_params.rs
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ mod test {
         let mut stmt = db.prepare("INSERT INTO test (x, y) VALUES (:x, :y)").unwrap();
         stmt.execute_named(&[(":x", &"one")]).unwrap();
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT y FROM test WHERE x = 'one'", &[],
-                                  |row| row.get::<Option<String>>(0)).unwrap();
+        let result: Option<String> = db.query_row("SELECT y FROM test WHERE x = 'one'", &[],
+                                  |row| row.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert!(result.is_none());
     }
 
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@ mod test {
         stmt.execute_named(&[(":x", &"one")]).unwrap();
         stmt.execute_named(&[(":y", &"two")]).unwrap();
 
-        let result = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM test WHERE y = 'two'", &[],
-                                  |row| row.get::<String>(0)).unwrap();
+        let result: String = db.query_row("SELECT x FROM test WHERE y = 'two'", &[],
+                                  |row| row.get(0)).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result, "one");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/types.rs b/src/types.rs
index c33afa8..e80f267 100644
--- a/src/types.rs
+++ b/src/types.rs
@@ -389,53 +389,53 @@ mod test {
         let row = rows.next().unwrap().unwrap();
 
         // check the correct types come back as expected
-        assert_eq!(vec![1, 2], row.get_checked::<Vec<u8>>(0).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!("text", row.get_checked::<String>(1).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(1, row.get_checked::<c_int>(2).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(1.5, row.get_checked::<c_double>(3).unwrap());
-        assert!(row.get_checked::<Option<c_int>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
-        assert!(row.get_checked::<Option<c_double>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
-        assert!(row.get_checked::<Option<String>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
+        assert_eq!(vec![1, 2], row.get_checked::<i32,Vec<u8>>(0).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!("text", row.get_checked::<i32,String>(1).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(1, row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(2).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(1.5, row.get_checked::<i32,c_double>(3).unwrap());
+        assert!(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_int>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
+        assert!(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_double>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
+        assert!(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<String>>(4).unwrap().is_none());
 
         // check some invalid types
 
         // 0 is actually a blob (Vec<u8>)
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_int>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_int>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i64>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_double>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<String>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<time::Timespec>(0).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Option<c_int>>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,i64>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_double>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,String>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,time::Timespec>(0).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_int>>(0).err().unwrap()));
 
         // 1 is actually a text (String)
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_int>(1).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i64>(1).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_double>(1).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Vec<u8>>(1).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Option<c_int>>(1).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(1).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,i64>(1).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_double>(1).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Vec<u8>>(1).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_int>>(1).err().unwrap()));
 
         // 2 is actually an integer
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_double>(2).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<String>(2).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Vec<u8>>(2).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<time::Timespec>(2).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Option<c_double>>(2).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_double>(2).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,String>(2).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Vec<u8>>(2).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,time::Timespec>(2).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_double>>(2).err().unwrap()));
 
         // 3 is actually a float (c_double)
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_int>(3).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i64>(3).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<String>(3).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Vec<u8>>(3).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<time::Timespec>(3).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Option<c_int>>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,i64>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,String>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Vec<u8>>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,time::Timespec>(3).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Option<c_int>>(3).err().unwrap()));
 
         // 4 is actually NULL
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_int>(4).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i64>(4).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<c_double>(4).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<String>(4).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<Vec<u8>>(4).err().unwrap()));
-        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<time::Timespec>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_int>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,i64>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,c_double>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,String>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,Vec<u8>>(4).err().unwrap()));
+        assert!(is_invalid_column_type(row.get_checked::<i32,time::Timespec>(4).err().unwrap()));
     }
 }