diff --git a/src/aind_data_access_api/helpers/docdb.py b/src/aind_data_access_api/helpers/docdb.py
index 7a8f32e..2683da6 100644
--- a/src/aind_data_access_api/helpers/docdb.py
+++ b/src/aind_data_access_api/helpers/docdb.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def get_projection_by_id(
     """
     Download a record from docdb using the record _id and a projection.
 
-    Projections return fields set to 1 {"field": 1}
+    Projections return fields set to 1, e.g. {"field": 1}
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -137,3 +137,61 @@ def get_name_from_id(
     if len(records) == 0:
         raise ValueError(f"No record found with _id {_id}")
     return records[0]["name"]
+
+
+def get_record_by_name(
+    client: MetadataDbClient,
+    name: str,
+) -> Optional[dict]:
+    """
+    Download a record from docdb using the record name.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    client : MetadataDbClient
+    name : str
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Optional[dict]
+        None if record does not exist. Otherwise, it will return the record as
+        a dict.
+    """
+    records = client.retrieve_docdb_records(
+        filter_query={"name": name}, limit=1
+    )
+    if len(records) > 0:
+        return records[0]
+    else:
+        return None
+
+
+def get_projection_by_name(
+    client: MetadataDbClient,
+    name: str,
+    projection: dict,
+) -> Optional[dict]:
+    """
+    Download a record from docdb using the record name and a projection.
+
+    Projections return fields set to 1, e.g. {"field": 1}
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    client : MetadataDbClient
+    name : str
+    projection : dict
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Optional[dict]
+        None if record does not exist. Otherwise, it will return the projected
+        record as a dict.
+    """
+    records = client.retrieve_docdb_records(
+        filter_query={"name": name}, projection=projection, limit=1
+    )
+    if len(records) > 0:
+        return records[0]
+    else:
+        return None
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_docdb.py b/tests/helpers/test_docdb.py
index c072cb5..cd7369a 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_docdb.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_docdb.py
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
     get_id_from_name,
     get_name_from_id,
     get_projection_by_id,
+    get_projection_by_name,
     get_record_by_id,
+    get_record_by_name,
 )
 
 
@@ -75,8 +77,8 @@ def test_get_record_by_id(self):
         record = get_record_by_id(client, _id="abcd")
         self.assertIsNone(record)
 
-    def test_get_projected_record_from_docdb(self):
-        """Tests get_projected_record_from_docdb"""
+    def test_get_projection_by_id(self):
+        """Tests get_projection_by_id"""
         client = MagicMock()
         client.retrieve_docdb_records.return_value = [
             {"quality_control": {"a": 1}}
@@ -95,6 +97,36 @@ def test_get_field_from_docdb(self):
         field = get_field_by_id(client, _id="abcd", field="quality_control")
         self.assertEqual({"quality_control": {"a": 1}}, field)
 
+    def test_get_record_by_name(self):
+        """Tests get_record_by_name"""
+        client = MagicMock()
+        client.retrieve_docdb_records.return_value = [{"name": "abcd"}]
+        record = get_record_by_name(client=client, name="abcd")
+        self.assertEqual({"name": "abcd"}, record)
+
+        # test the empty case
+        client.retrieve_docdb_records.return_value = []
+        record = get_record_by_name(client=client, name="abcd")
+        self.assertIsNone(record)
+
+    def test_get_projection_by_name(self):
+        """Tests get_projection_by_name"""
+        client = MagicMock()
+        client.retrieve_docdb_records.return_value = [
+            {"quality_control": {"a": 1}}
+        ]
+        record = get_projection_by_name(
+            client=client, name="abcd", projection={"quality_control": 1}
+        )
+        self.assertEqual({"quality_control": {"a": 1}}, record)
+
+        # test the empty case
+        client.retrieve_docdb_records.return_value = []
+        record = get_projection_by_name(
+            client=client, name="abcd", projection={"quality_control": 1}
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(record)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()