diff --git a/.changeset/search-crying-in-hmart.md b/.changeset/search-crying-in-hmart.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6df59658e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/search-crying-in-hmart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-search': minor
+---
+
+The way labels are controlled on both the `<SearchFilter.Checkbox />` and
+`<SearchFilter.Select />` components has changed. Previously, the string passed
+on the `name` prop (which controls the field being filtered on) was also
+rendered as the field label. Now, if you want a label rendered, it must be
+passed on the new `label` prop. If no `label` is provided, no label will be
+rendered.
diff --git a/.changeset/search-the-things.md b/.changeset/search-the-things.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..83cc65233a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/search-the-things.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+'@backstage/create-app': patch
+---
+
+A `label` prop was added to `<SearchFilter.* />` components in order to allow
+user-friendly label strings (as well as the option to omit a label). In order
+to maintain labels on your existing filters, add a `label` prop to them in your
+`SearchPage.tsx`.
+
+```diff
+--- a/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
++++ b/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
+@@ -96,11 +96,13 @@ const SearchPage = () => {
+               )}
+               <SearchFilter.Select
+                 className={classes.filter}
++                label="Kind"
+                 name="kind"
+                 values={['Component', 'Template']}
+               />
+               <SearchFilter.Checkbox
+                 className={classes.filter}
++                label="Lifecycle"
+                 name="lifecycle"
+                 values={['experimental', 'production']}
+               />
+```
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
index 555a8932ea..3b839f9b1f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
@@ -115,11 +115,13 @@ const SearchPage = () => {
                 )}
                 <SearchFilter.Select
                   className={classes.filter}
+                  label="Kind"
                   name="kind"
                   values={['Component', 'Template']}
                 />
                 <SearchFilter.Checkbox
                   className={classes.filter}
+                  label="Lifecycle"
                   name="lifecycle"
                   values={['experimental', 'production']}
                 />
diff --git a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
index d348606873..d9508e24e8 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
+++ b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/packages/app/src/components/search/SearchPage.tsx
@@ -96,11 +96,13 @@ const SearchPage = () => {
               )}
               <SearchFilter.Select
                 className={classes.filter}
+                label="Kind"
                 name="kind"
                 values={['Component', 'Template']}
               />
               <SearchFilter.Checkbox
                 className={classes.filter}
+                label="Lifecycle"
                 name="lifecycle"
                 values={['experimental', 'production']}
               />
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
index 7a67bf3935..b329cf3b03 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const AutocompleteFilter = (props: SearchAutocompleteFilterProps) => {
       {...params}
       name="search"
       variant="outlined"
-      label={label || name}
+      label={label}
       fullWidth
     />
   );
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
index aa1b7e5e88..31539df0d8 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     types: [],
   };
 
+  const label = 'Field';
   const name = 'field';
   const values = ['value1', 'value2'];
   const filters = { unrelated: 'unrelated' };
@@ -57,12 +58,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Renders field name and values when provided as props', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
-          <SearchFilter.Checkbox name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Checkbox label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       expect(
@@ -83,12 +84,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
             },
           }}
         >
-          <SearchFilter.Checkbox name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Checkbox label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       expect(
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
           <SearchFilter.Checkbox
+            label={label}
             name={name}
             values={values}
             defaultValue={[values[0]]}
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       expect(screen.getByRole('checkbox', { name: values[0] })).toBeChecked();
@@ -121,12 +123,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Checking / unchecking a value sets filter state', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
-          <SearchFilter.Checkbox name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Checkbox label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       const checkBox = screen.getByRole('checkbox', { name: values[0] });
@@ -151,12 +153,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Checking / unchecking a value maintains unrelated filter state', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={{ ...initialState, filters }}>
-          <SearchFilter.Checkbox name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Checkbox label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       const checkBox = screen.getByRole('checkbox', { name: values[0] });
@@ -185,12 +187,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Renders field name and values when provided as props', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
-          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Select label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button'));
@@ -210,7 +212,11 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Renders values when provided asynchronously', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
-          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} asyncValues={async () => values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Select
+            label={label}
+            name={name}
+            asyncValues={async () => values}
+          />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
@@ -245,12 +251,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
             },
           }}
         >
-          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Select label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button'));
@@ -276,6 +282,7 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
           <SearchFilter.Select
             name={name}
+            label={label}
             values={values}
             defaultValue={values[0]}
           />
@@ -283,7 +290,7 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button'));
@@ -307,12 +314,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
     it('Selecting a value sets filter state', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
-          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Select label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       const button = screen.getByRole('button');
@@ -358,12 +365,12 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
             filters,
           }}
         >
-          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchFilter.Select label={label} name={name} values={values} />
         </SearchContextProvider>,
       );
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(screen.getByText(name)).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument();
       });
 
       const button = screen.getByRole('button');
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.tsx
index d009afd115..534db60130 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.tsx
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ const CheckboxFilter = (props: SearchFilterComponentProps) => {
       fullWidth
       data-testid="search-checkboxfilter-next"
     >
-      <FormLabel className={classes.label}>{label || name}</FormLabel>
+      {label ? <FormLabel className={classes.label}>{label}</FormLabel> : null}
       {values.map((value: string) => (
         <FormControlLabel
           key={value}
@@ -154,9 +154,11 @@ const SelectFilter = (props: SearchFilterComponentProps) => {
       fullWidth
       data-testid="search-selectfilter-next"
     >
-      <InputLabel className={classes.label} margin="dense">
-        {label || name}
-      </InputLabel>
+      {label ? (
+        <InputLabel className={classes.label} margin="dense">
+          {label}
+        </InputLabel>
+      ) : null}
       <Select
         variant="outlined"
         value={filters[name] || ''}