diff --git a/baked_in.go b/baked_in.go
index f7b55ab3d..1ba72bef7 100644
--- a/baked_in.go
+++ b/baked_in.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"reflect"
+	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -231,6 +232,7 @@ var (
 		"mongodb":                       isMongoDB,
 		"cron":                          isCron,
 		"spicedb":                       isSpiceDB,
+		"python_var":                    isPythonVar,
 	}
 )
 
@@ -2878,3 +2880,55 @@ func isCron(fl FieldLevel) bool {
 	cronString := fl.Field().String()
 	return cronRegex.MatchString(cronString)
 }
+
+// check if string is a valid python variable name
+func isPythonVar(fl FieldLevel) bool {
+	// Python keywords can not be used as variable names
+	// in future this list may be subject to ammendement, pruning, or other change
+	switch fl.Field().String() {
+	case
+		"False",
+		"await",
+		"else",
+		"import",
+		"pass",
+		"None",
+		"break",
+		"except",
+		"in",
+		"raise",
+		"True",
+		"class",
+		"finally",
+		"is",
+		"return",
+		"and",
+		"continue",
+		"for",
+		"lambda",
+		"try",
+		"as",
+		"def",
+		"from",
+		"nonlocal",
+		"while",
+		"assert",
+		"del",
+		"global",
+		"not",
+		"with",
+		"async",
+		"elif",
+		"if",
+		"or",
+		"yield":
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// all variables must start with a letter or underscore
+	// further chars can be alphanumeric, or underscore
+	// dashes and special characters are not allowed
+	pattern := regexp.MustCompile("^[a-zA-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_]*$")
+
+	return pattern.Match([]byte(fl.Field().String()))
+}
diff --git a/validator_test.go b/validator_test.go
index 088782784..f1eb1c633 100644
--- a/validator_test.go
+++ b/validator_test.go
@@ -13311,6 +13311,41 @@ func TestCronExpressionValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPythonVariableValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		value    string `validate:"python_var"`
+		tag      string
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{"x", "python_var", true},
+		{"x0", "python_var", true},
+		{"x_0", "python_var", true},
+		{"__init__", "python_var", true},
+		{"x-x", "python_var", false},
+		{"0x", "python_var", false},
+		{"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", "python_var", true},
+		{"abcde_0_0466___", "python_var", true},
+		{"while", "python_var", false},
+		{"False", "python_var", false},
+		{"(x)", "python_var", false},
+	}
+
+	validate := New()
+
+	for i, test := range tests {
+		errs := validate.Var(test.value, test.tag)
+		if test.expected {
+			if !IsEqual(errs, nil) {
+				t.Fatalf(`Index: %d python_var "%s" failed Error: %s`, i, test.value, errs)
+			}
+		} else {
+			if IsEqual(errs, nil) {
+				t.Fatalf(`Index: %d python_var "%s" should have errs`, i, test.value)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNestedStructValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	validator := New()