diff --git a/src/components/radio/README.md b/src/components/radio/README.md
index f30a783dcb98..7c30a1f812ac 100644
--- a/src/components/radio/README.md
+++ b/src/components/radio/README.md
@@ -47,13 +47,16 @@ The `md-radio-group` component has no button initially selected.
 ## `<md-radio-button>`
 ### Properties
 
-| Name | Type | Description |
+| Name (attribute) | Type | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `id` | `string` | The unique ID of this radio button. |
 | `name` | `string` | Group name, defaults to parent radio group if present. |
 | `value` | `any` | The value of this radio button. |
 | `checked` | `boolean` | Whether the radio is checked. |
 | `disabled` | `boolean` | Whether the radio is disabled. |
+| `aria-label` | `string` | Used to set the `aria-label` attribute of the underlying input element. |
+| `aria-labelledby` | `string` | Used to set the `aria-labelledby` attribute of the underlying input element.
+                                 If provided, this attribute takes precedence as the element's text alternative. |
 
 When checked, an event is emitted from the `change` EventEmitter property.
 
diff --git a/src/components/radio/radio.html b/src/components/radio/radio.html
index e094b07f4842..249e35f67b43 100644
--- a/src/components/radio/radio.html
+++ b/src/components/radio/radio.html
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
           [checked]="checked"
           [disabled]="disabled"
           [name]="name"
+          [attr.aria-label]="ariaLabel"
+          [attr.aria-labelledby]="ariaLabelledby"
           (change)="onInputChange($event)"
           (focus)="onInputFocus()"
           (blur)="onInputBlur()" />
diff --git a/src/components/radio/radio.spec.ts b/src/components/radio/radio.spec.ts
index 6f5a8c1a6de4..565769a2cce6 100644
--- a/src/components/radio/radio.spec.ts
+++ b/src/components/radio/radio.spec.ts
@@ -345,10 +345,14 @@ describe('MdRadio', () => {
     let radioDebugElements: DebugElement[];
     let seasonRadioInstances: MdRadioButton[];
     let weatherRadioInstances: MdRadioButton[];
+    let fruitRadioInstances: MdRadioButton[];
+    let fruitRadioNativeInputs: HTMLElement[];
     let testComponent: StandaloneRadioButtons;
 
     beforeEach(async(() => {
       builder.createAsync(StandaloneRadioButtons).then(f => {
+        let fruitRadioNativeElements: HTMLElement[];
+
         fixture = f;
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -361,6 +365,18 @@ describe('MdRadio', () => {
         weatherRadioInstances = radioDebugElements
             .filter(debugEl => debugEl.componentInstance.name == 'weather')
             .map(debugEl => debugEl.componentInstance);
+        fruitRadioInstances = radioDebugElements
+            .filter(debugEl => debugEl.componentInstance.name == 'fruit')
+            .map(debugEl => debugEl.componentInstance);
+
+        fruitRadioNativeElements = radioDebugElements
+            .filter(debugEl => debugEl.componentInstance.name == 'fruit')
+            .map(debugEl => debugEl.nativeElement);
+
+        fruitRadioNativeInputs = [];
+        for (let element of fruitRadioNativeElements) {
+          fruitRadioNativeInputs.push(<HTMLElement> element.querySelector('input'));
+        }
       });
     }));
 
@@ -393,6 +409,40 @@ describe('MdRadio', () => {
       expect(weatherRadioInstances[1].checked).toBe(false);
       expect(weatherRadioInstances[2].checked).toBe(true);
     });
+
+    it('should add aria-label attribute to the underlying input element if defined', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('Banana');
+    });
+
+    it('should not add aria-label attribute if not defined', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[1].hasAttribute('aria-label')).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+
+    it('should change aria-label attribute if property is changed at runtime', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('Banana');
+
+      fruitRadioInstances[0].ariaLabel = 'Pineapple';
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('Pineapple');
+    });
+
+    it('should add aria-labelledby attribute to the underlying input element if defined', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-labelledby')).toBe('xyz');
+    });
+
+    it('should not add aria-labelledby attribute if not defined', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[1].hasAttribute('aria-labelledby')).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+
+    it('should change aria-labelledby attribute if property is changed at runtime', () => {
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-labelledby')).toBe('xyz');
+
+      fruitRadioInstances[0].ariaLabelledby = 'uvw';
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fruitRadioNativeInputs[0].getAttribute('aria-labelledby')).toBe('uvw');
+    });
   });
 });
 
@@ -423,6 +473,11 @@ class RadiosInsideRadioGroup {
     <md-radio-button name="weather" value="warm">Spring</md-radio-button>
     <md-radio-button name="weather" value="hot">Summer</md-radio-button>
     <md-radio-button name="weather" value="cool">Autumn</md-radio-button>
+    
+    <span id="xyz">Baby Banana<span>
+    <md-radio-button name="fruit" value="banana" aria-label="Banana" aria-labelledby="xyz">
+    </md-radio-button>
+    <md-radio-button name="fruit" value="raspberry">Raspberry</md-radio-button>
   `
 })
 class StandaloneRadioButtons { }
diff --git a/src/components/radio/radio.ts b/src/components/radio/radio.ts
index f4028ad8db40..57ca45bfb5bb 100644
--- a/src/components/radio/radio.ts
+++ b/src/components/radio/radio.ts
@@ -254,6 +254,12 @@ export class MdRadioButton implements OnInit {
   @Input()
   name: string;
 
+  /** Used to set the 'aria-label' attribute on the underlying input element. */
+  @Input('aria-label') ariaLabel: string;
+
+  /** The 'aria-labelledby' attribute takes precedence as the element's text alternative. */
+  @Input('aria-labelledby') ariaLabelledby: string;
+
   /** Whether this radio is disabled. */
   private _disabled: boolean;
 
diff --git a/src/demo-app/radio/radio-demo.scss b/src/demo-app/radio/radio-demo.scss
index 16163c533357..af41a95719cd 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/radio/radio-demo.scss
+++ b/src/demo-app/radio/radio-demo.scss
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@
   md-radio-button {
     margin: 8px;
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}