diff --git a/docs/src/manual/filedialogs.md b/docs/src/manual/filedialogs.md
index d8425a6d..067dfa38 100644
--- a/docs/src/manual/filedialogs.md
+++ b/docs/src/manual/filedialogs.md
@@ -33,9 +33,14 @@ if isdir(dir)
 end
 ```
 
+The open and save dialogs (incl. native versions) support the keyword argument `current_folder`
+to set the current folder shown when the dialog opens. Both save dialog variants support an additional
+keyword argument, `current_name`, to allow suggesting a filename for saving.
+
 Here are some examples:
 ```julia
 open_dialog("Pick a file")
+open_dialog("Pick a file"; current_folder=homedir())
 open_dialog("Pick some files", select_multiple=true)
 open_dialog("Pick a file", Null(), ("*.jl",))
 open_dialog("Pick some text files", GtkNullContainer(), ("*.txt, *.csv",), select_multiple=true)
@@ -44,6 +49,8 @@ open_dialog("Pick an image file", GtkNullContainer(), ("*.png", "*.jpg", GtkFile
 open_dialog("Pick an image file", GtkNullContainer(), (GtkFileFilter(name="Supported image formats"),))
 
 save_dialog("Save as...", Null(), (GtkFileFilter("*.png, *.jpg", name="All supported formats"), "*.png", "*.jpg"))
+save_dialog("Save as...", Null(), (GtkFileFilter("*.png, *.jpg", name="All supported formats"), "*.png", "*.jpg");
+            current_name="Profile.jpg")
 ```
 
 
diff --git a/src/selectors.jl b/src/selectors.jl
index 0be181a5..984a8633 100755
--- a/src/selectors.jl
+++ b/src/selectors.jl
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ function makefilters!(dlgp::GtkFileChooser, filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple
     end
 end
 
-function open_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[]; kwargs...)
+function open_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[];
+                     current_folder::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing, kwargs...)
     dlg = GtkFileChooserDialog(title, parent, GConstants.GtkFileChooserAction.OPEN,
                                 (("_Cancel", GConstants.GtkResponseType.CANCEL),
                                  ("_Open",   GConstants.GtkResponseType.ACCEPT)); kwargs...)
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ function open_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters
     if !isempty(filters)
         makefilters!(dlgp, filters)
     end
+    if !isnothing(current_folder)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_folder, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_folder)
+    end
     response = run(dlg)
     multiple = get_gtk_property(dlg, :select_multiple, Bool)
     local selection
@@ -116,12 +120,16 @@ function open_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters
     return selection
 end
 
-function open_dialog_native(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[]; kwargs...)
+function open_dialog_native(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[];
+                            current_folder::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing, kwargs...)
     dlg = GtkFileChooserNative(title, parent, GConstants.GtkFileChooserAction.OPEN,"_Open","_Cancel"; kwargs...)
     dlgp = GtkFileChooser(dlg)
     if !isempty(filters)
         makefilters!(dlgp, filters)
     end
+    if !isnothing(current_folder)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_folder, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_folder)
+    end
     response = run(dlg)
     multiple = get_gtk_property(dlg, :select_multiple, Bool)
     local selection
@@ -143,7 +151,9 @@ function open_dialog_native(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(),
     return selection
 end
 
-function save_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[]; kwargs...)
+function save_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[];
+                     current_folder::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing,
+                     current_name::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing, kwargs...)
     dlg = GtkFileChooserDialog(title, parent, GConstants.GtkFileChooserAction.SAVE,
                                 (("_Cancel", GConstants.GtkResponseType.CANCEL),
                                  ("_Save",   GConstants.GtkResponseType.ACCEPT)); kwargs...)
@@ -151,6 +161,12 @@ function save_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters
     if !isempty(filters)
         makefilters!(dlgp, filters)
     end
+    if !isnothing(current_folder)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_folder, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_folder)
+    end
+    if !isnothing(current_name)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_name, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_name)
+    end
     ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_do_overwrite_confirmation, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Cint), dlg, true)
     response = run(dlg)
     if response == GConstants.GtkResponseType.ACCEPT
@@ -162,12 +178,20 @@ function save_dialog(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters
     return selection
 end
 
-function save_dialog_native(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[]; kwargs...)
+function save_dialog_native(title::AbstractString, parent = GtkNullContainer(), filters::Union{AbstractVector, Tuple} = String[];
+                            current_folder::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing,
+                            current_name::Union{AbstractString, Nothing} = nothing, kwargs...)
     dlg = GtkFileChooserNative(title, parent, GConstants.GtkFileChooserAction.SAVE,"_Save","_Cancel"; kwargs...)
     dlgp = GtkFileChooser(dlg)
     if !isempty(filters)
         makefilters!(dlgp, filters)
     end
+    if !isnothing(current_folder)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_folder, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_folder)
+    end
+    if !isnothing(current_name)
+        ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_current_name, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Ptr{UInt8}), dlgp, current_name)
+    end
     ccall((:gtk_file_chooser_set_do_overwrite_confirmation, libgtk), Nothing, (Ptr{GObject}, Cint), dlg, true)
     response = run(dlg)
     if response == GConstants.GtkResponseType.ACCEPT