diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/repository-name-emojis b/changelogs/unreleased/repository-name-emojis
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fe52df8eedc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/repository-name-emojis
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: Added ability to put emojis into repository name
+merge_request: 7420
+author: Vincent Composieux
diff --git a/config/database.yml.mysql b/config/database.yml.mysql
index a99c50706c5..d9702870249 100644
--- a/config/database.yml.mysql
+++ b/config/database.yml.mysql
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #
 production:
   adapter: mysql2
-  encoding: utf8
-  collation: utf8_general_ci
+  encoding: utf8mb4
+  collation: utf8mb4_general_ci
   reconnect: false
   database: gitlabhq_production
   pool: 10
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ production:
 #
 development:
   adapter: mysql2
-  encoding: utf8
-  collation: utf8_general_ci
+  encoding: utf8mb4
+  collation: utf8mb4_general_ci
   reconnect: false
   database: gitlabhq_development
   pool: 5
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ development:
 # Do not set this db to the same as development or production.
 test: &test
   adapter: mysql2
-  encoding: utf8
-  collation: utf8_general_ci
+  encoding: utf8mb4
+  collation: utf8mb4_general_ci
   reconnect: false
   database: gitlabhq_test
   pool: 5
diff --git a/doc/gitlab-basics/create-project.md b/doc/gitlab-basics/create-project.md
index 3f45a631b3a..1c549844ee1 100644
--- a/doc/gitlab-basics/create-project.md
+++ b/doc/gitlab-basics/create-project.md
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ There are two ways to create a new project in GitLab.
 
 1. Fill out the information:
 
-  1. "Project name" is the name of your project (you can't use spaces, but you
-     can use hyphens or underscores).
+  1. "Project name" is the name of your project (you can't use special characters,
+     but you can use spaces, hyphens, underscores or even emojis).
   1. The "Project description" is optional and will be shown in your project's
      dashboard so others can briefly understand what your project is about.
   1. Select a [visibility level](../public_access/public_access.md).
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/regex.rb b/lib/gitlab/regex.rb
index cb1659f9cee..155ca47e04c 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/regex.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/regex.rb
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ module Gitlab
     end
 
     def project_name_regex
-      @project_name_regex ||= /\A[\p{Alnum}_][\p{Alnum}\p{Pd}_\. ]*\z/.freeze
+      @project_name_regex ||= /\A[\p{Alnum}\u{00A9}-\u{1f9c0}_][\p{Alnum}\p{Pd}\u{00A9}-\u{1f9c0}_\. ]*\z/.freeze
     end
 
     def project_name_regex_message
-      "can contain only letters, digits, '_', '.', dash and space. " \
-      "It must start with letter, digit or '_'."
+      "can contain only letters, digits, emojis, '_', '.', dash, space. " \
+      "It must start with letter, digit, emoji or '_'."
     end
 
     def project_path_regex
diff --git a/spec/features/projects/project_settings_spec.rb b/spec/features/projects/project_settings_spec.rb
index 3de25d7af7d..bf60cca4ea4 100644
--- a/spec/features/projects/project_settings_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/projects/project_settings_spec.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe 'Edit Project Settings', feature: true do
       click_button 'Save changes'
 
       expect(page).to have_field 'project_name_edit', with: 'foo&bar'
-      expect(page).to have_content "Name can contain only letters, digits, '_', '.', dash and space. It must start with letter, digit or '_'."
+      expect(page).to have_content "Name can contain only letters, digits, emojis, '_', '.', dash, space. It must start with letter, digit, emoji or '_'."
       expect(page).to have_button 'Save changes'
     end
   end
@@ -34,8 +34,21 @@ describe 'Edit Project Settings', feature: true do
 
       expect(page).to have_field 'Project name', with: 'foo&bar'
       expect(page).to have_field 'Path', with: 'foo&bar'
-      expect(page).to have_content "Name can contain only letters, digits, '_', '.', dash and space. It must start with letter, digit or '_'."
+      expect(page).to have_content "Name can contain only letters, digits, emojis, '_', '.', dash, space. It must start with letter, digit, emoji or '_'."
       expect(page).to have_content "Path can contain only letters, digits, '_', '-' and '.'. Cannot start with '-', end in '.git' or end in '.atom'"
     end
   end
+
+  describe 'Rename repository name with emojis' do
+    it 'shows error for invalid project name' do
+      visit edit_namespace_project_path(project.namespace, project)
+
+      fill_in 'Project name', with: '🚀 foo bar ☁️'
+
+      click_button 'Rename project'
+
+      expect(page).to have_field 'Project name', with: '🚀 foo bar ☁️'
+      expect(page).not_to have_content "Name can contain only letters, digits, emojis '_', '.', dash and space. It must start with letter, digit, emoji or '_'."
+    end
+  end
 end