diff --git a/coral-component-shell/src/scripts/ShellUser.js b/coral-component-shell/src/scripts/ShellUser.js
index cdedd5edc4..106877f9d5 100644
--- a/coral-component-shell/src/scripts/ShellUser.js
+++ b/coral-component-shell/src/scripts/ShellUser.js
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class ShellUser extends BaseComponent(HTMLElement) {
       footer: this.querySelector('coral-shell-user-footer') || document.createElement('coral-shell-user-footer')
     };
 
+    this._elements.name.setAttribute('role', 'heading');
+    this._elements.name.setAttribute('aria-level', '2');
+
     user.call(this._elements, {icon: avatar.DEFAULT});
   }
 
diff --git a/coral-component-shell/src/tests/test.Shell.User.js b/coral-component-shell/src/tests/test.Shell.User.js
index 1c8adfe725..4b6c3eecb8 100644
--- a/coral-component-shell/src/tests/test.Shell.User.js
+++ b/coral-component-shell/src/tests/test.Shell.User.js
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ describe('Shell.User', function () {
         el.name = newContentZone;
         expect(el.name).to.equal(newContentZone);
       });
+
+      it('should have role of heading', function () {
+        expect(el.name.role).to.equal('heading');
+        expect(el.name.ariaLevel).to.equal('2');
+      });
     });
 
     describe('#heading', function () {