diff --git a/book/src/configuration.md b/book/src/configuration.md
index 0890d28328ca..a35482e6ecba 100644
--- a/book/src/configuration.md
+++ b/book/src/configuration.md
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ The following statusline elements can be configured:
 | `mode` | The current editor mode (`mode.normal`/`mode.insert`/`mode.select`) |
 | `spinner` | A progress spinner indicating LSP activity |
 | `file-name` | The path/name of the opened file |
+| `file-base-name` | The basename of the opened file |
 | `file-encoding` | The encoding of the opened file if it differs from UTF-8 |
 | `file-line-ending` | The file line endings (CRLF or LF) |
 | `total-line-numbers` | The total line numbers of the opened file |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
index 501faea3963e..a25b4540d1f9 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ where
     match element_id {
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::Mode => render_mode,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::Spinner => render_lsp_spinner,
+        helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileBaseName => render_file_base_name,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileName => render_file_name,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileEncoding => render_file_encoding,
         helix_view::editor::StatusLineElement::FileLineEnding => render_file_line_ending,
@@ -426,6 +427,26 @@ where
     write(context, title, None);
 }
 
+fn render_file_base_name<F>(context: &mut RenderContext, write: F)
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut RenderContext, String, Option<Style>) + Copy,
+{
+    let title = {
+        let rel_path = context.doc.relative_path();
+        let path = rel_path
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|p| p.as_path().file_name().map(|s| s.to_string_lossy()))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME.into());
+        format!(
+            " {}{} ",
+            path,
+            if context.doc.is_modified() { "[+]" } else { "" }
+        )
+    };
+
+    write(context, title, None);
+}
+
 fn render_separator<F>(context: &mut RenderContext, write: F)
 where
     F: Fn(&mut RenderContext, String, Option<Style>) + Copy,
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index c13a66736948..3521077efa39 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -314,7 +314,10 @@ pub enum StatusLineElement {
     /// The LSP activity spinner
     Spinner,
 
-    /// The file nane/path, including a dirty flag if it's unsaved
+    /// The base file name, including a dirty flag if it's unsaved
+    FileBaseName,
+
+    /// The relative file path, including a dirty flag if it's unsaved
     FileName,
 
     /// The file encoding