diff --git a/library/cloud/digital_ocean b/library/cloud/digital_ocean
index 82733ae483b..31ec50888f1 100644
--- a/library/cloud/digital_ocean
+++ b/library/cloud/digital_ocean
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ options:
   name:
     description:
      - String, this is the name of the droplet - must be formatted by hostname rules, or the name of a SSH key.
+  unique_name:
+    description:
+     - Bool, require unique hostnames.  By default, digital ocean allows multiple hosts with the same name.  Setting this to "yes" allows only one host per name.  Useful for idempotence.
+    default: "no"
+    choices: [ "yes", "no" ]
   size_id:
     description:
      - Numeric, this is the id of the size you would like the droplet created at.
@@ -211,13 +216,22 @@ class Droplet(JsonfyMixIn):
         return droplet
 
     @classmethod
-    def find(cls, id):
-        if not id:
+    def find(cls, id=None, name=None):
+        if not id and not name:
             return False
+
         droplets = cls.list_all()
+
+        # Check first by id.  digital ocean requires that it be unique
         for droplet in droplets:
             if droplet.id == id:
                 return droplet
+
+        # Failing that, check by hostname.
+        for droplet in droplets:
+            if droplet.name == name:
+                return droplet
+
         return False
 
     @classmethod
@@ -281,7 +295,17 @@ def core(module):
     if command == 'droplet':
         Droplet.setup(client_id, api_key)
         if state in ('active', 'present'):
-            droplet = Droplet.find(module.params['id'])
+
+            # First, try to find a droplet by id.
+            droplet = Droplet.find(id=module.params['id'])
+
+            # If we couldn't find the droplet and the user is allowing unique
+            # hostnames, then check to see if a droplet with the specified
+            # hostname already exists.
+            if not droplet and module.params['unique_name']:
+                droplet = Droplet.find(name=getkeyordie('name'))
+
+            # If both of those attempts failed, then create a new droplet.
             if not droplet:
                 droplet = Droplet.add(
                     name=getkeyordie('name'),
@@ -290,18 +314,30 @@ def core(module):
                     region_id=getkeyordie('region_id'),
                     ssh_key_ids=module.params['ssh_key_ids']
                 )
+
             if droplet.is_powered_on():
                 changed = False
+
             droplet.ensure_powered_on(
                 wait=getkeyordie('wait'),
                 wait_timeout=getkeyordie('wait_timeout')
             )
+
             module.exit_json(changed=changed, droplet=droplet.to_json())
 
         elif state in ('absent', 'deleted'):
-            droplet = Droplet.find(getkeyordie('id'))
+            # First, try to find a droplet by id.
+            droplet = Droplet.find(id=getkeyordie('id'))
+
+            # If we couldn't find the droplet and the user is allowing unique
+            # hostnames, then check to see if a droplet with the specified
+            # hostname already exists.
+            if not droplet and module.params['unique_name']:
+                droplet = Droplet.find(name=getkeyordie('name'))
+
             if not droplet:
                 module.exit_json(changed=False, msg='The droplet is not found.')
+
             event_json = droplet.destroy()
             module.exit_json(changed=True, event_id=event_json['event_id'])
 
@@ -336,6 +372,7 @@ def main():
             region_id = dict(type='int'),
             ssh_key_ids = dict(default=''),
             id = dict(aliases=['droplet_id'], type='int'),
+            unique_name = dict(type='bool', choices=BOOLEANS, default='no'),
             wait = dict(type='bool', choices=BOOLEANS, default='yes'),
             wait_timeout = dict(default=300, type='int'),
             ssh_pub_key = dict(type='str'),