diff --git a/docs/source/usage/parameters.rst b/docs/source/usage/parameters.rst
index a5b2efc87..4d4c5be6b 100644
--- a/docs/source/usage/parameters.rst
+++ b/docs/source/usage/parameters.rst
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ Lattice Elements
             * ``<element_name>.dx`` (``float``, in meters) horizontal translation error
             * ``<element_name>.dy`` (``float``, in meters) vertical translation error
             * ``<element_name>.rotation`` (``float``, in degrees) rotation error in the transverse plane
-            * ``<element_name>.x_aperture`` (``float``, in meters) horizontal half-aperture (elliptical)
-            * ``<element_name>.y_aperture`` (``float``, in meters) vertical half-aperture (elliptical)
+            * ``<element_name>.aperture_x`` (``float``, in meters) horizontal half-aperture (elliptical)
+            * ``<element_name>.aperture_y`` (``float``, in meters) vertical half-aperture (elliptical)
             * ``<element_name>.nslice`` (``integer``) number of slices used for the application of space charge (default: ``1``)
 
         * ``drift_chromatic`` for a free drift, with chromatic effects included.
diff --git a/docs/source/usage/python.rst b/docs/source/usage/python.rst
index a8ae412d5..8bdcd1dbe 100644
--- a/docs/source/usage/python.rst
+++ b/docs/source/usage/python.rst
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ This module provides elements for the accelerator lattice.
    :param rotation: rotation error in the transverse plane [degrees]
    :param name: an optional name for the element
 
-.. py:class:: impactx.elements.Drift(ds, dx=0, dy=0, rotation=0, x_aperture=0, y_aperture=0, nslice=1, name=None)
+.. py:class:: impactx.elements.Drift(ds, dx=0, dy=0, rotation=0, aperture_x=0, aperture_y=0, nslice=1, name=None)
 
    A drift.
 
@@ -578,8 +578,8 @@ This module provides elements for the accelerator lattice.
    :param dx: horizontal translation error in m
    :param dy: vertical translation error in m
    :param rotation: rotation error in the transverse plane [degrees]
-   :param x_aperture: horizontal half-aperture (elliptical) in m
-   :param y_aperture: vertical half-aperture (elliptical) in m
+   :param aperture_x: horizontal half-aperture (elliptical) in m
+   :param aperture_y: vertical half-aperture (elliptical) in m
    :param nslice: number of slices used for the application of space charge
    :param name: an optional name for the element
 
diff --git a/examples/aperture/input_aperture_thick.in b/examples/aperture/input_aperture_thick.in
index 339c0de16..0921240b0 100644
--- a/examples/aperture/input_aperture_thick.in
+++ b/examples/aperture/input_aperture_thick.in
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ monitor.backend = h5
 
 drift.type = drift
 drift.ds = 0.123
-drift.x_aperture = 1.0e-3
-drift.y_aperture = 1.5e-3
+drift.aperture_x = 1.0e-3
+drift.aperture_y = 1.5e-3
 
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/examples/aperture/run_aperture_thick.py b/examples/aperture/run_aperture_thick.py
index 11895b180..6184c7946 100755
--- a/examples/aperture/run_aperture_thick.py
+++ b/examples/aperture/run_aperture_thick.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 sim.lattice.extend(
     [
         monitor,
-        elements.Drift(name="drift", ds=0.123, x_aperture=1.0e-3, y_aperture=1.5e-3),
+        elements.Drift(name="drift", ds=0.123, aperture_x=1.0e-3, aperture_y=1.5e-3),
         monitor,
     ]
 )
diff --git a/src/initialization/InitElement.cpp b/src/initialization/InitElement.cpp
index 3777e7013..aba8cdcb3 100644
--- a/src/initialization/InitElement.cpp
+++ b/src/initialization/InitElement.cpp
@@ -94,22 +94,22 @@ namespace detail
         return values;
     }
 
-    /** Read the Aperture parameters x_aperture and y_aperture from inputs
+    /** Read the Aperture parameters aperture_x and aperture_y from inputs
      *
      * @param pp_element the element being read
-     * @return key-value pairs for x_aperture and y_aperture
+     * @return key-value pairs for aperture_x and aperture_y
      */
     std::map<std::string, amrex::ParticleReal>
     query_aperture (amrex::ParmParse& pp_element)
     {
-        amrex::ParticleReal x_aperture = 0;
-        amrex::ParticleReal y_aperture = 0;
-        pp_element.query("x_aperture", x_aperture);
-        pp_element.query("y_aperture", y_aperture);
+        amrex::ParticleReal aperture_x = 0;
+        amrex::ParticleReal aperture_y = 0;
+        pp_element.query("aperture_x", aperture_x);
+        pp_element.query("aperture_y", aperture_y);
 
         std::map<std::string, amrex::ParticleReal> values = {
-                {"x_aperture", x_aperture},
-                {"y_aperture", y_aperture}
+                {"aperture_x", aperture_x},
+                {"aperture_y", aperture_y}
         };
 
         return values;
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ namespace detail
             auto a = detail::query_alignment(pp_element);
             auto b = detail::query_aperture(pp_element);
 
-            m_lattice.emplace_back( Drift(ds, a["dx"], a["dy"], a["rotation_degree"], b["x_aperture"], b["y_aperture"], nslice, element_name) );
+            m_lattice.emplace_back( Drift(ds, a["dx"], a["dy"], a["rotation_degree"], b["aperture_x"], b["y_aperture"], nslice, element_name) );
         } else if (element_type == "sbend")
         {
             auto const [ds, nslice] = detail::query_ds(pp_element, nslice_default);
diff --git a/src/particles/elements/Drift.H b/src/particles/elements/Drift.H
index 43b0120ef..129f3412f 100644
--- a/src/particles/elements/Drift.H
+++ b/src/particles/elements/Drift.H
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ namespace impactx
          * @param dx horizontal translation error in m
          * @param dy vertical translation error in m
          * @param rotation_degree rotation error in the transverse plane [degrees]
-         * @param x_aperture horizontal half-aperture in m
-         * @param y_aperture vertical half-aperture in m
+         * @param aperture_x horizontal half-aperture in m
+         * @param aperture_y vertical half-aperture in m
          * @param nslice number of slices used for the application of space charge
          * @param name a user defined and not necessarily unique name of the element
          */
@@ -54,15 +54,15 @@ namespace impactx
             amrex::ParticleReal dx = 0,
             amrex::ParticleReal dy = 0,
             amrex::ParticleReal rotation_degree = 0,
-            amrex::ParticleReal x_aperture = 0,
-            amrex::ParticleReal y_aperture = 0,
+            amrex::ParticleReal aperture_x = 0,
+            amrex::ParticleReal aperture_y = 0,
             int nslice = 1,
             std::optional<std::string> name = std::nullopt
         )
         : Named(std::move(name)),
           Thick(ds, nslice),
           Alignment(dx, dy, rotation_degree),
-          Aperture(x_aperture, y_aperture)
+          Aperture(aperture_x, aperture_y)
         {
         }
 
diff --git a/src/particles/elements/mixin/aperture.H b/src/particles/elements/mixin/aperture.H
index 6674f4ea1..f77f6c2fe 100644
--- a/src/particles/elements/mixin/aperture.H
+++ b/src/particles/elements/mixin/aperture.H
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ namespace impactx::elements
 
         /** A finite-length element
          *
-         * @param x_aperture horizontal half-aperture size in m
-         * @param y_aperture vertical half-aperture size in m
+         * @param aperture_x horizontal half-aperture size in m
+         * @param aperture_y vertical half-aperture size in m
          */
         Aperture (
-            amrex::ParticleReal x_aperture,
-            amrex::ParticleReal y_aperture
+            amrex::ParticleReal aperture_x,
+            amrex::ParticleReal aperture_y
         )
-        : m_x_aperture(x_aperture), m_y_aperture(y_aperture)
+        : m_aperture_x(aperture_x), m_aperture_y(aperture_y)
         {
         }
 
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ namespace impactx::elements
         ) const {
             using namespace amrex::literals; // for _rt and _prt
 
-            // skip aperture application if x_aperture <= 0 or y_aperture <= 0
-            if (m_x_aperture > 0 && m_y_aperture > 0) {
+            // skip aperture application if aperture_x <= 0 or aperture_y <= 0
+            if (m_aperture_x > 0 && m_aperture_y > 0) {
 
                // scale horizontal and vertical coordinates
-               amrex::ParticleReal const u = x / m_x_aperture;
-               amrex::ParticleReal const v = y / m_y_aperture;
+               amrex::ParticleReal const u = x / m_aperture_x;
+               amrex::ParticleReal const v = y / m_aperture_y;
 
                // compare against the aperture boundary
                if (std::pow(u,2) + std::pow(v,2) > 1_prt) {
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ namespace impactx::elements
          * @return horizontal aperture size in m
          */
         AMREX_GPU_HOST_DEVICE AMREX_FORCE_INLINE
-        amrex::ParticleReal x_aperture () const
+        amrex::ParticleReal aperture_x () const
         {
-            return m_x_aperture;
+            return m_aperture_x;
         }
 
         /** Vertical aperture size
@@ -89,13 +89,13 @@ namespace impactx::elements
          * @return vertical aperture size in m
          */
         AMREX_GPU_HOST_DEVICE AMREX_FORCE_INLINE
-        amrex::ParticleReal y_aperture () const
+        amrex::ParticleReal aperture_y () const
         {
-            return m_y_aperture;
+            return m_aperture_y;
         }
 
-        amrex::ParticleReal m_x_aperture = 0; //! horizontal aperture size [m]
-        amrex::ParticleReal m_y_aperture = 0; //! vertical aperture size [m]
+        amrex::ParticleReal m_aperture_x = 0; //! horizontal aperture size [m]
+        amrex::ParticleReal m_aperture_y = 0; //! vertical aperture size [m]
     };
 
 } // namespace impactx::elements
diff --git a/src/python/elements.cpp b/src/python/elements.cpp
index 670e13061..58d1e8358 100644
--- a/src/python/elements.cpp
+++ b/src/python/elements.cpp
@@ -219,12 +219,12 @@ void init_elements(py::module& m)
         .def(py::init<>(),
              "Mixin class for lattice elements with a transverse aperture."
         )
-        .def_property_readonly("x_aperture",
-            &elements::Aperture::x_aperture,
+        .def_property_readonly("aperture_x",
+            &elements::Aperture::aperture_x,
             "horizontal aperture in m"
         )
-        .def_property_readonly("y_aperture",
-            &elements::Aperture::y_aperture,
+        .def_property_readonly("aperture_y",
+            &elements::Aperture::aperture_y,
             "vertical aperture in m"
         )
     ;
@@ -693,8 +693,8 @@ void init_elements(py::module& m)
              py::arg("dx") = 0,
              py::arg("dy") = 0,
              py::arg("rotation") = 0,
-             py::arg("x_aperture") = 0,
-             py::arg("y_aperture") = 0,
+             py::arg("aperture_x") = 0,
+             py::arg("aperture_y") = 0,
              py::arg("nslice") = 1,
              py::arg("name") = py::none(),
              "A drift."