diff --git a/source/blender/editors/io/CMakeLists.txt b/source/blender/editors/io/CMakeLists.txt
index 65aaef6a8ce..547d59e36a6 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/io/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/blender/editors/io/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ if(WITH_ALEMBIC)
 endif()
 
 if(WITH_USD)
+  list(APPEND INC_SYS
+    ${USD_INCLUDE_DIRS}
+  )
   list(APPEND LIB
     bf_io_usd
   )
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/io/io_usd.cc b/source/blender/editors/io/io_usd.cc
index 2ecd1ca6838..b59a90bb31f 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/io/io_usd.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/io/io_usd.cc
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 #  include "io_utils.hh"
 #  include "usd.hh"
 
+#  include <pxr/pxr.h>
+
 #  include <string>
 #  include <utility>
 
@@ -259,6 +261,12 @@ static int wm_usd_export_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
 
   const int usdz_downscale_custom_size = RNA_int_get(op->ptr, "usdz_downscale_custom_size");
 
+#  if PXR_VERSION >= 2403
+  const bool allow_unicode = RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "allow_unicode");
+#  else
+  const bool allow_unicode = false;
+#  endif
+
   char root_prim_path[FILE_MAX];
   RNA_string_get(op->ptr, "root_prim_path", root_prim_path);
   process_prim_path(root_prim_path);
@@ -299,6 +307,7 @@ static int wm_usd_export_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
       export_volumes,
       usdz_downscale_size,
       usdz_downscale_custom_size,
+      allow_unicode,
   };
 
   STRNCPY(params.root_prim_path, root_prim_path);
@@ -337,6 +346,9 @@ static void wm_usd_export_draw(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
   row = uiLayoutRow(col, true);
   uiItemR(row, ptr, "author_blender_name", UI_ITEM_NONE, nullptr, ICON_NONE);
   uiLayoutSetActive(row, RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "export_custom_properties"));
+#  if PXR_VERSION >= 2403
+  uiItemR(col, ptr, "allow_unicode", UI_ITEM_NONE, nullptr, ICON_NONE);
+#  endif
 
   uiItemR(col, ptr, "convert_world_material", UI_ITEM_NONE, nullptr, ICON_NONE);
 
@@ -645,6 +657,16 @@ void WM_OT_usd_export(wmOperatorType *ot)
       "Currently works for simple materials, consisting of an environment texture "
       "connected to a background shader, with an optional vector multiply of the texture color");
 
+#  if PXR_VERSION >= 2403
+  RNA_def_boolean(
+      ot->srna,
+      "allow_unicode",
+      false,
+      "Allow Unicode",
+      "Preserve UTF-8 encoded characters when writing USD prim and property names "
+      "(requires software utilizing USD 24.03 or greater when opening the resulting files)");
+#  endif
+
   RNA_def_boolean(ot->srna, "export_meshes", true, "Meshes", "Export all meshes");
 
   RNA_def_boolean(ot->srna, "export_lights", true, "Lights", "Export all lights");
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/CMakeLists.txt b/source/blender/io/usd/CMakeLists.txt
index c85dcd83ab1..8d84d2e6009 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ set(SRC
   intern/usd_hook.cc
   intern/usd_light_convert.cc
   intern/usd_mesh_utils.cc
+  intern/usd_utils.cc
 
   intern/usd_writer_abstract.cc
   intern/usd_writer_armature.cc
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ set(SRC
   intern/usd_hook.hh
   intern/usd_light_convert.hh
   intern/usd_mesh_utils.hh
+  intern/usd_utils.hh
 
   intern/usd_writer_abstract.hh
   intern/usd_writer_armature.hh
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.cc
index 1476735ab03..45c12bac0bc 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
 
 #include "usd_armature_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include "BKE_armature.hh"
 #include "BKE_modifier.hh"
@@ -95,22 +96,23 @@ void get_armature_bone_names(const Object *ob_arm,
   visit_bones(ob_arm, visitor);
 }
 
-pxr::TfToken build_usd_joint_path(const Bone *bone)
+pxr::TfToken build_usd_joint_path(const Bone *bone, bool allow_unicode)
 {
-  std::string path(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(bone->name));
+  std::string path(bone->name);
 
   const Bone *parent = bone->parent;
   while (parent) {
-    path = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(parent->name) + std::string("/") + path;
+    path = parent->name + std::string("/") + path;
     parent = parent->parent;
   }
 
-  return pxr::TfToken(path);
+  return pxr::TfToken(make_safe_name(path, allow_unicode));
 }
 
 void create_pose_joints(pxr::UsdSkelAnimation &skel_anim,
                         const Object &obj,
-                        const Map<StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_map)
+                        const Map<StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_map,
+                        bool allow_unicode)
 {
   BLI_assert(obj.pose);
 
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ void create_pose_joints(pxr::UsdSkelAnimation &skel_anim,
         continue;
       }
 
-      joints.push_back(build_usd_joint_path(pchan->bone));
+      joints.push_back(build_usd_joint_path(pchan->bone, allow_unicode));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.hh b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.hh
index c2c74982ba8..694602b9064 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.hh
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_armature_utils.hh
@@ -46,9 +46,10 @@ void get_armature_bone_names(const Object *ob_arm, bool use_deform, Vector<std::
  * in the hierarchy.
  *
  * \param bone: The bone whose path will be queried.
+ * \param allow_unicode: Whether to allow unicode bone names to be used
  * \return The path to the joint.
  */
-pxr::TfToken build_usd_joint_path(const Bone *bone);
+pxr::TfToken build_usd_joint_path(const Bone *bone, bool allow_unicode);
 
 /**
  * Sets the USD joint paths as an attribute on the given USD animation,
@@ -61,10 +62,12 @@ pxr::TfToken build_usd_joint_path(const Bone *bone);
  *                    is not null, assume only deform bones are to be
  *                    exported and bones not found in this map will be
  *                    skipped
+ * \param allow_unicode: Whether to allow unicode bone names to be used
  */
 void create_pose_joints(pxr::UsdSkelAnimation &skel_anim,
                         const Object &obj,
-                        const Map<StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_map);
+                        const Map<StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_map,
+                        bool allow_unicode);
 
 /**
  * Return the modifier of the given type enabled for the given dependency graph's
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.cc
index bb7be6c07ac..ca92e055713 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
 
 #include "usd_blend_shape_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/primvarsAPI.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdSkel/animMapper.h>
@@ -190,7 +191,8 @@ bool is_mesh_with_shape_keys(const Object *obj)
 
 void create_blend_shapes(pxr::UsdStageRefPtr stage,
                          const Object *obj,
-                         const pxr::UsdPrim &mesh_prim)
+                         const pxr::UsdPrim &mesh_prim,
+                         bool allow_unicode)
 {
   const Key *key = get_mesh_shape_key(obj);
 
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ void create_blend_shapes(pxr::UsdStageRefPtr stage,
       continue;
     }
 
-    pxr::TfToken name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(kb->name));
+    pxr::TfToken name(make_safe_name(kb->name, allow_unicode));
     blendshape_names.push_back(name);
 
     pxr::SdfPath path = mesh_prim.GetPath().AppendChild(name);
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.hh b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.hh
index 935df6ccf84..c2557f9ed1b 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.hh
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_blend_shape_utils.hh
@@ -44,10 +44,12 @@ bool is_mesh_with_shape_keys(const Object *obj);
  * \param stage: The stage
  * \param obj: The mesh object whose shape keys will be converted to blend shapes
  * \param mesh_prim: The USD mesh that will be assigned the blend shape targets
+ * \param allow_unicode: Whether to allow unicode encoded characters in the blend shape name
  */
 void create_blend_shapes(pxr::UsdStageRefPtr stage,
                          const Object *obj,
-                         const pxr::UsdPrim &mesh_prim);
+                         const pxr::UsdPrim &mesh_prim,
+                         bool allow_unicode);
 
 /**
  * Return the current weight values of the given key.
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_hierarchy_iterator.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_hierarchy_iterator.cc
index f0e29de64b2..4281d29b36a 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_hierarchy_iterator.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_hierarchy_iterator.cc
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "usd_hierarchy_iterator.hh"
 #include "usd_skel_convert.hh"
 #include "usd_skel_root_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_writer_abstract.hh"
 #include "usd_writer_armature.hh"
 #include "usd_writer_camera.hh"
@@ -21,8 +22,6 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
-#include <pxr/base/tf/stringUtils.h>
-
 #include "BKE_main.hh"
 
 #include "BLI_assert.h"
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ void USDHierarchyIterator::release_writer(AbstractHierarchyWriter *writer)
 
 std::string USDHierarchyIterator::make_valid_name(const std::string &name) const
 {
-  return pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(name);
+  return make_safe_name(name, params_.allow_unicode);
 }
 
 void USDHierarchyIterator::process_usd_skel() const
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_material.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_material.cc
index 3c6a3e23d91..266db3b28cb 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_material.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_material.cc
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
 
 #include "usd_reader_material.hh"
-#include "usd_reader_utils.hh"
-
 #include "usd_asset_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_reader_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include "BKE_appdir.hh"
 #include "BKE_image.h"
@@ -1359,7 +1359,7 @@ void build_material_map(const Main *bmain, blender::Map<std::string, Material *>
   BLI_assert_msg(r_mat_map, "...");
 
   LISTBASE_FOREACH (Material *, material, &bmain->materials) {
-    std::string usd_name = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(material->id.name + 2);
+    std::string usd_name = make_safe_name(material->id.name + 2, true);
     r_mat_map->lookup_or_add_default(usd_name) = material;
   }
 }
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_mesh.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_mesh.cc
index c07c971e5da..f3bc638fc99 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_mesh.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_mesh.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "usd_mesh_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_reader_material.hh"
 #include "usd_skel_convert.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include "BKE_attribute.hh"
 #include "BKE_customdata.hh"
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ static void assign_materials(Main *bmain,
                              blender::Map<std::string, Material *> &mat_name_to_mat,
                              blender::Map<std::string, std::string> &usd_path_to_mat_name)
 {
+  using namespace blender::io::usd;
   if (!(stage && bmain && ob)) {
     return;
   }
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ static void assign_materials(Main *bmain,
     return;
   }
 
-  blender::io::usd::USDMaterialReader mat_reader(params, bmain);
+  USDMaterialReader mat_reader(params, bmain);
 
   for (const auto item : mat_index_map.items()) {
     Material *assigned_mat = blender::io::usd::find_existing_material(
@@ -120,10 +122,10 @@ static void assign_materials(Main *bmain,
         continue;
       }
 
-      const std::string mat_name = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(assigned_mat->id.name + 2);
+      const std::string mat_name = make_safe_name(assigned_mat->id.name + 2, true);
       mat_name_to_mat.lookup_or_add_default(mat_name) = assigned_mat;
 
-      if (params.mtl_name_collision_mode == blender::io::usd::USD_MTL_NAME_COLLISION_MAKE_UNIQUE) {
+      if (params.mtl_name_collision_mode == USD_MTL_NAME_COLLISION_MAKE_UNIQUE) {
         /* Record the name of the Blender material we created for the USD material
          * with the given path. */
         usd_path_to_mat_name.lookup_or_add_default(item.key.GetAsString()) = mat_name;
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_stage.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_stage.cc
index 1583ced7167..be3e52bceee 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_stage.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_reader_stage.cc
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "usd_reader_skeleton.hh"
 #include "usd_reader_volume.hh"
 #include "usd_reader_xform.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include <pxr/pxr.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/camera.h>
@@ -566,7 +567,7 @@ void USDStageReader::import_all_materials(Main *bmain)
     Material *new_mtl = mtl_reader.add_material(usd_mtl);
     BLI_assert_msg(new_mtl, "Failed to create material");
 
-    const std::string mtl_name = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(new_mtl->id.name + 2);
+    const std::string mtl_name = make_safe_name(new_mtl->id.name + 2, true);
     settings_.mat_name_to_mat.lookup_or_add_default(mtl_name) = new_mtl;
 
     if (params_.mtl_name_collision_mode == USD_MTL_NAME_COLLISION_MAKE_UNIQUE) {
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dba289cbd72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/* SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2024 Blender Authors
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
+
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
+
+#include "BLI_string_utf8.h"
+
+#include <pxr/base/tf/stringUtils.h>
+#if PXR_VERSION >= 2403
+#  include <pxr/base/tf/unicodeUtils.h>
+#endif
+
+namespace blender::io::usd {
+
+std::string make_safe_name(const std::string &name, [[maybe_unused]] bool allow_unicode)
+{
+#if PXR_VERSION >= 2403
+  if (!allow_unicode) {
+    return pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(name);
+  }
+
+  if (name.empty()) {
+    return "_";
+  }
+
+  std::string buf;
+  buf.resize(name.size());  // We won't be exceeding the size of the incoming string
+
+  bool first = true;
+  size_t offset = 0;
+  for (auto cp : pxr::TfUtf8CodePointView{name}) {
+    constexpr pxr::TfUtf8CodePoint cp_underscore = pxr::TfUtf8CodePointFromAscii('_');
+    const bool cp_allowed = first ? (cp == cp_underscore || pxr::TfIsUtf8CodePointXidStart(cp)) :
+                                    pxr::TfIsUtf8CodePointXidContinue(cp);
+    if (!cp_allowed) {
+      offset += BLI_str_utf8_from_unicode(uint32_t('_'), buf.data() + offset, buf.size() - offset);
+    }
+    else {
+      offset += BLI_str_utf8_from_unicode(cp.AsUInt32(), buf.data() + offset, buf.size() - offset);
+    }
+
+    first = false;
+  }
+
+  return buf;
+#else
+  return pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(name);
+#endif
+}
+
+}  // namespace blender::io::usd
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.hh b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.hh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..23285e112f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_utils.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/* SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2024 Blender Authors
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace blender::io::usd {
+
+/**
+ * Return a valid USD identifier based on the passed in string.
+ *
+ * \param name: Incoming name to sanitize
+ * \param allow_unicode: Whether to allow unicode encoded characters in the USD identifier
+ * \return A valid USD identifier
+ */
+std::string make_safe_name(const std::string &name, bool allow_unicode);
+
+}  // namespace blender::io::usd
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_abstract.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_abstract.cc
index 79497a75732..8581c202b58 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_abstract.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_abstract.cc
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
 #include "usd_writer_abstract.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_writer_material.hh"
 
-#include <pxr/base/tf/stringUtils.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/bboxCache.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/scope.h>
 
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ pxr::UsdShadeMaterial USDAbstractWriter::ensure_usd_material(const HierarchyCont
   pxr::UsdStageRefPtr stage = usd_export_context_.stage;
 
   /* Construct the material. */
-  pxr::TfToken material_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(material->id.name + 2));
+  pxr::TfToken material_name(
+      make_safe_name(material->id.name + 2, usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   pxr::SdfPath usd_path = pxr::UsdGeomScope::Define(stage, get_material_library_path())
                               .GetPath()
                               .AppendChild(material_name);
@@ -325,7 +326,8 @@ void USDAbstractWriter::write_user_properties(const pxr::UsdPrim &prim,
       continue;
     }
 
-    std::string prop_name = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(prop->name);
+    std::string prop_name = make_safe_name(prop->name,
+                                           usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode);
     std::string full_prop_name = "userProperties:" + prop_name;
 
     pxr::TfToken prop_token = pxr::TfToken(full_prop_name);
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_armature.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_armature.cc
index 34ec8b45436..091ef9ed58b 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_armature.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_armature.cc
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ static pxr::GfMatrix4d parent_relative_pose_mat(const bPoseChannel *pchan)
 static void initialize(const Object *obj,
                        pxr::UsdSkelSkeleton &skel,
                        pxr::UsdSkelAnimation &skel_anim,
-                       const blender::Map<blender::StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_bones)
+                       const blender::Map<blender::StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_bones,
+                       bool allow_unicode)
 {
   using namespace blender::io::usd;
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ static void initialize(const Object *obj,
       return;
     }
 
-    joints.push_back(build_usd_joint_path(bone));
+    joints.push_back(build_usd_joint_path(bone, allow_unicode));
     const pxr::GfMatrix4f arm_mat(bone->arm_mat);
     bind_xforms.push_back(pxr::GfMatrix4d(arm_mat));
 
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ static void initialize(const Object *obj,
   if (skel_anim) {
     usd_skel_api.CreateAnimationSourceRel().SetTargets(
         pxr::SdfPathVector({pxr::SdfPath(usdtokens::Anim)}));
-    create_pose_joints(skel_anim, *obj, deform_bones);
+    create_pose_joints(skel_anim, *obj, deform_bones, allow_unicode);
   }
 }
 
@@ -166,13 +167,14 @@ void USDArmatureWriter::do_write(HierarchyContext &context)
     }
   }
 
+  const bool allow_unicode = usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode;
   Map<StringRef, const Bone *> *deform_map = usd_export_context_.export_params.only_deform_bones ?
                                                  &deform_map_ :
                                                  nullptr;
 
   if (!this->frame_has_been_written_) {
     init_deform_bones_map(context.object, deform_map);
-    initialize(context.object, skel, skel_anim, deform_map);
+    initialize(context.object, skel, skel_anim, deform_map, allow_unicode);
   }
 
   if (usd_export_context_.export_params.export_animation) {
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_curves.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_curves.cc
index f9d583ea13f..0214eb92d96 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_curves.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_curves.cc
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "usd_attribute_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_hierarchy_iterator.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_writer_curves.hh"
 
 #include "BLI_array_utils.hh"
@@ -405,7 +406,8 @@ void USDCurvesWriter::write_generic_data(const bke::CurvesGeometry &curves,
   }
 
   const pxr::UsdTimeCode timecode = get_export_time_code();
-  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(attribute_id.name()));
+  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(
+      make_safe_name(attribute_id.name(), usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   const pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI pv_api = pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI(usd_curves);
 
   pxr::UsdGeomPrimvar pv_attr = pv_api.CreatePrimvar(pv_name, *pv_type, *pv_interp);
@@ -425,7 +427,8 @@ void USDCurvesWriter::write_uv_data(const bke::CurvesGeometry &curves,
   }
 
   const pxr::UsdTimeCode timecode = get_export_time_code();
-  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(attribute_id.name()));
+  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(
+      make_safe_name(attribute_id.name(), usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   const pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI pv_api = pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI(usd_curves);
 
   pxr::UsdGeomPrimvar pv_uv = pv_api.CreatePrimvar(
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_material.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_material.cc
index 0c0c78d9432..dbd14cdda4b 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_material.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_material.cc
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
 
 #include "usd_writer_material.hh"
-
 #include "usd_exporter_context.hh"
 #include "usd_hook.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
+#include "usd_writer_abstract.hh"
 
 #include "BKE_image.h"
 #include "BKE_image_format.h"
@@ -472,7 +473,8 @@ static void create_uvmap_shader(const USDExporterContext &usd_export_context,
   if (uv_node && uv_node->storage) {
     NodeShaderUVMap *shader_uv_map = static_cast<NodeShaderUVMap *>(uv_node->storage);
     /* We need to make valid here because actual uv primvar has been. */
-    uv_name = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(shader_uv_map->uv_map);
+    uv_name = make_safe_name(shader_uv_map->uv_map,
+                             usd_export_context.export_params.allow_unicode);
   }
 
   uv_shader.CreateInput(usdtokens::varname, pxr::SdfValueTypeNames->String).Set(uv_name);
@@ -778,7 +780,7 @@ static pxr::UsdShadeShader create_usd_preview_shader(const USDExporterContext &u
                                                      const int type)
 {
   pxr::SdfPath shader_path = material.GetPath().AppendChild(
-      pxr::TfToken(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(name)));
+      pxr::TfToken(make_safe_name(name, usd_export_context.export_params.allow_unicode)));
   pxr::UsdShadeShader shader = pxr::UsdShadeShader::Define(usd_export_context.stage, shader_path);
 
   switch (type) {
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_mesh.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_mesh.cc
index b9e9257c65b..58e63956a5a 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_mesh.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_mesh.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "usd_attribute_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_blend_shape_utils.hh"
 #include "usd_skel_convert.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/mesh.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdGeom/primvarsAPI.h>
@@ -261,7 +262,8 @@ void USDGenericMeshWriter::write_generic_data(const Mesh *mesh,
   }
 
   const pxr::UsdTimeCode timecode = get_export_time_code();
-  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(attribute_id.name()));
+  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(
+      make_safe_name(attribute_id.name(), usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   const pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI pv_api = pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI(usd_mesh);
 
   pxr::UsdGeomPrimvar pv_attr = pv_api.CreatePrimvar(pv_name, *pv_type, *pv_interp);
@@ -282,7 +284,8 @@ void USDGenericMeshWriter::write_uv_data(const Mesh *mesh,
   }
 
   const pxr::UsdTimeCode timecode = get_export_time_code();
-  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(attribute_id.name()));
+  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(
+      make_safe_name(attribute_id.name(), usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   const pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI pv_api = pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI(usd_mesh);
 
   pxr::UsdGeomPrimvar pv_uv = pv_api.CreatePrimvar(
@@ -303,7 +306,8 @@ void USDGenericMeshWriter::write_color_data(const Mesh *mesh,
   }
 
   const pxr::UsdTimeCode timecode = get_export_time_code();
-  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(attribute_id.name()));
+  const pxr::TfToken pv_name(
+      make_safe_name(attribute_id.name(), usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode));
   const pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI pv_api = pxr::UsdGeomPrimvarsAPI(usd_mesh);
 
   /* Varying type depends on original domain. */
@@ -876,7 +880,10 @@ void USDMeshWriter::init_blend_shapes(const HierarchyContext &context)
     return;
   }
 
-  create_blend_shapes(this->usd_export_context_.stage, context.object, mesh_prim);
+  create_blend_shapes(this->usd_export_context_.stage,
+                      context.object,
+                      mesh_prim,
+                      usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode);
 }
 
 void USDMeshWriter::do_write(HierarchyContext &context)
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_volume.cc b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_volume.cc
index 78168a549ac..2e1997eb463 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_volume.cc
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/intern/usd_writer_volume.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "usd_writer_volume.hh"
 #include "usd_hierarchy_iterator.hh"
+#include "usd_utils.hh"
 
 #include <pxr/base/tf/pathUtils.h>
 #include <pxr/usd/usdVol/openVDBAsset.h>
@@ -73,7 +74,8 @@ void USDVolumeWriter::do_write(HierarchyContext &context)
   for (const int i : IndexRange(num_grids)) {
     const bke::VolumeGridData *grid = BKE_volume_grid_get(volume, i);
     const std::string grid_name = bke::volume_grid::get_name(*grid);
-    const std::string grid_id = pxr::TfMakeValidIdentifier(grid_name);
+    const std::string grid_id = make_safe_name(grid_name,
+                                               usd_export_context_.export_params.allow_unicode);
     const pxr::SdfPath grid_path = volume_path.AppendPath(pxr::SdfPath(grid_id));
     pxr::UsdVolOpenVDBAsset usd_grid = pxr::UsdVolOpenVDBAsset::Define(stage, grid_path);
     usd_grid.GetFieldNameAttr().Set(pxr::TfToken(grid_name), timecode);
diff --git a/source/blender/io/usd/usd.hh b/source/blender/io/usd/usd.hh
index bc468fd1e39..d6c9497dd9c 100644
--- a/source/blender/io/usd/usd.hh
+++ b/source/blender/io/usd/usd.hh
@@ -129,9 +129,11 @@ struct USDExportParams {
   bool export_cameras = true;
   bool export_curves = true;
   bool export_volumes = true;
-
   eUSDZTextureDownscaleSize usdz_downscale_size = eUSDZTextureDownscaleSize::USD_TEXTURE_SIZE_KEEP;
   int usdz_downscale_custom_size = 128;
+
+  bool allow_unicode = false;
+
   char root_prim_path[1024] = ""; /* FILE_MAX */
   char collection[MAX_IDPROP_NAME] = "";