diff --git a/lib/rdf/graph.ex b/lib/rdf/graph.ex
index 5a34689..0945122 100644
--- a/lib/rdf/graph.ex
+++ b/lib/rdf/graph.ex
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ defmodule RDF.Graph do
 
   @behaviour Access
 
-  alias RDF.{Description, Triple}
+  alias RDF.{Description, Triple, Quad}
 
   @type t :: module
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ defmodule RDF.Graph do
   Creates an empty named `RDF.Graph`.
   """
   def new(name),
-    do: %RDF.Graph{name: RDF.uri(name)}
+    do: %RDF.Graph{name: Quad.convert_graph_context(name)}
 
   @doc """
   Creates a named `RDF.Graph` with an initial triple.
diff --git a/test/unit/graph_test.exs b/test/unit/graph_test.exs
index 3dbae61..96e20f2 100644
--- a/test/unit/graph_test.exs
+++ b/test/unit/graph_test.exs
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ defmodule RDF.GraphTest do
       assert named_graph?(named_graph())
     end
 
+    test "creating an empty graph with a blank node as graph name" do
+      assert named_graph(bnode("graph_name"))
+             |> named_graph?(bnode("graph_name"))
+    end
+
     test "creating an empty graph with a convertible graph name" do
       assert named_graph("http://example.com/graph/GraphName")
              |> named_graph?(uri("http://example.com/graph/GraphName"))