diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 7a077e2..1749e94 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ Suggests:
     dplyr,
     rmarkdown,
     testthat (>= 3.0.0),
-    tidyselect
+    tidyselect,
+    vctrs
 Config/testthat/edition: 3
 Remotes: 
     R-ArcGIS/arcgisutils
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 899625d..f11cf62 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export(add_features)
 export(add_item)
 export(arc_open)
 export(arc_raster)
+export(arc_read)
 export(arc_select)
 export(clear_query)
 export(create_feature_server)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index a31e8ab..c5dc0dc 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # arcgislayers 0.1.0 (unreleased)
 
+- Add `arc_read()` with support for `name_repair` argument using `{vctrs}` (#108)
 - Add `get_layer_estimates()` to retrieve estimate info such as the number of features and the extent of the layer
 - Add `truncate_layer()` to support truncate and append workflow
 - Add support for opening `MapServers` <https://github.com/R-ArcGIS/arcgislayers/pull/83>
diff --git a/R/arc-read.R b/R/arc-read.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b86f4a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/arc-read.R
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+#' Read a ArcGIS FeatureLayer, Table, or ImageServer
+#'
+#' [arc_read()] combines the functionality of [arc_open()] with [arc_select()]
+#' or [arc_raster()] to read an ArcGIS FeatureLayer, Table, or ImageServer to a
+#' `sf` object or object of class `SpatRaster`. Optionally set, check, or modify
+#' names for the returned data frame or sf object using the `col_names` and
+#' `name_repair` parameters.
+#'
+#' `r lifecycle::badge("experimental")`
+#'
+#' @inheritParams arc_open
+#' @param col_names Default `TRUE`. If `TRUE`, use the default column names for
+#'   the feature. If `col_names` is a character vector with the same length as
+#'   the number of columns in the layer, the default names are replaced with the
+#'   new names. If `col_names` has one fewer name than the default column names,
+#'   the existing sf column name is retained. If `col_names` is the string
+#'   `"alias"`, names are set to match the available alias names for the layer.
+#' @param col_select Default `NULL`. A character vector of the field names to be
+#'   returned. By default, all fields are returned.
+#' @param n_max Defaults to 10000 or an option set with
+#'   `options("arcgislayers.n_max" = <max records>)`. Maximum number of records
+#'   to return.
+#' @inheritParams arc_select
+#' @inheritParams arc_raster
+#' @param name_repair Default `"unique"`. See [vctrs::vec_as_names()] for
+#'   details. If `name_repair = NULL`, names are set directly.
+#' @param ... Additional arguments passed to [arc_select()] if URL is a
+#'   `FeatureLayer` or `Table` or [arc_raster()] if URL is an `ImageLayer`.
+#' @returns An sf object, a `data.frame`, or an object of class `SpatRaster`.
+#' @examples
+#'if (interactive()) {
+#'  url <- "https://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/Census/MapServer/3"
+#'
+#'  arc_read(url)
+#'
+#'  # apply tolower() to column names
+#'  arc_read(url, name_repair = tolower)
+#'
+#'  url <- "https://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/EmergencyFacilities/FeatureServer/0"
+#'
+#'  # use field aliases as column names
+#'  arc_read(url, col_names = "alias")
+#'
+#'  # read an ImageServer directly
+#'  img_url <- "https://landsat2.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/Landsat/MS/ImageServer"
+#'
+#'  arc_read(
+#'    img_url,
+#'    width = 1000, height = 1000,
+#'    xmin = -71, ymin = 43,
+#'    xmax = -67, ymax = 47.5,
+#'    bbox_crs = 4326
+#'  )
+#'}
+#' @export
+arc_read <- function(
+    url,
+    col_names = TRUE,
+    col_select = NULL,
+    n_max = getOption("arcgislayers.n_max", default = 10000),
+    name_repair = "unique",
+    crs = NULL,
+    ...,
+    fields = NULL,
+    token = Sys.getenv("ARCGIS_TOKEN")
+) {
+  service <- arc_open(url = url, token = token)
+
+  crs <- crs %||% sf::st_crs(service)
+
+  # if the server is an ImageServer we use arc_raster
+  if (inherits(service, "ImageServer")) {
+    layer <- arc_raster(
+      x = service,
+      ...,
+      crs = crs,
+      token = token
+    )
+
+    return(layer)
+
+  } else if (!obj_is_layer(service)) {
+    # if it is not a layer we abort
+    # implicitly checks for Layer type and permits continuing
+    cli::cli_abort(
+      c(
+        "{.arg url} is not a supported type:
+      {.val FeatureLayer}, {.val Table}, or {.val ImageServer}",
+        "i" = "found {.val {class(service)}}"
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  layer <- arc_select(
+    x = service,
+    fields = col_select %||% fields,
+    crs = crs,
+    n_max = n_max,
+    token = token,
+    ...
+  )
+
+  set_layer_names(
+    layer,
+    col_names = col_names,
+    name_repair = name_repair,
+    alias = service[["fields"]][["alias"]]
+  )
+}
+
+#' Set names for layer or table
+#'
+#' @noRd
+set_layer_names <- function(
+    x,
+    col_names = NULL,
+    name_repair = NULL,
+    alias = NULL,
+    call = rlang::caller_env()
+) {
+  layer_nm <- names(x)
+
+  # Use existing names by default
+  nm <- layer_nm
+  sf_column_nm <- attr(x, "sf_column")
+
+  if (is.character(col_names)) {
+    # Assign alias values as name if col_names = "alias"
+    if (identical(col_names, "alias")) {
+      col_names <- alias
+    }
+
+    nm <- col_names
+  }
+
+  nm_len <- length(nm)
+
+  if (rlang::is_false(col_names)) {
+    # Use X1, X2, etc. as names if col_names is FALSE
+    nm <- paste0("X", seq(to = nm_len))
+  }
+
+  # If x is a sf object and sf column is not in names, check to ensure names
+  # work with geometry column
+  if (inherits(x, "sf") && sf_column_nm != nm[[nm_len]]) {
+    layer_nm_len <- length(layer_nm)
+    if (length(nm) == layer_nm_len) {
+      # If same number of names as layer columns, use last name for geometry
+      x <- sf::st_set_geometry(x, nm[[length(layer_nm)]])
+    } else if (length(nm) == (layer_nm_len - 1)) {
+      # If same number of names as layer columns, use existing geometry name
+      nm <- c(nm, sf_column_nm)
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!is.null(name_repair)) {
+    rlang::check_installed("vctrs", call = call)
+    nm <- vctrs::vec_as_names(
+      names = nm,
+      repair = name_repair,
+      repair_arg = "name_repair",
+      call = call
+    )
+  }
+
+  rlang::set_names(
+    x,
+    nm = nm
+  )
+}
diff --git a/R/arc-select.R b/R/arc-select.R
index 5e9a9ff..3e1b66e 100644
--- a/R/arc-select.R
+++ b/R/arc-select.R
@@ -272,6 +272,11 @@ obj_check_layer <- function(x,
   )
 }
 
+#' @noRd
+obj_is_layer <- function(x) {
+  rlang::inherits_any(x, c("FeatureLayer", "Table"))
+}
+
 #' Check if an object inherits from a set of classes
 #'
 #' [check_inherits_any()] wraps [rlang::inherits_any()] to error if an object
diff --git a/man/arc_read.Rd b/man/arc_read.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f93de0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/arc_read.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/arc-read.R
+\name{arc_read}
+\alias{arc_read}
+\title{Read a ArcGIS FeatureLayer, Table, or ImageServer}
+\usage{
+arc_read(
+  url,
+  col_names = TRUE,
+  col_select = NULL,
+  n_max = getOption("arcgislayers.n_max", default = 10000),
+  name_repair = "unique",
+  crs = NULL,
+  ...,
+  fields = NULL,
+  token = Sys.getenv("ARCGIS_TOKEN")
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{url}{The url of the remote resource. Must be of length one.}
+
+\item{col_names}{Default \code{TRUE}. If \code{TRUE}, use the default column names for
+the feature. If \code{col_names} is a character vector with the same length as
+the number of columns in the layer, the default names are replaced with the
+new names. If \code{col_names} has one fewer name than the default column names,
+the existing sf column name is retained. If \code{col_names} is the string
+\code{"alias"}, names are set to match the available alias names for the layer.}
+
+\item{col_select}{Default \code{NULL}. A character vector of the field names to be
+returned. By default, all fields are returned.}
+
+\item{n_max}{Defaults to 10000 or an option set with
+\verb{options("arcgislayers.n_max" = <max records>)}. Maximum number of records
+to return.}
+
+\item{name_repair}{Default \code{"unique"}. See \code{\link[vctrs:vec_as_names]{vctrs::vec_as_names()}} for
+details. If \code{name_repair = NULL}, names are set directly.}
+
+\item{crs}{the spatial reference to be returned. If the CRS is different than
+the the CRS for the input \code{FeatureLayer}, a transformation will occur
+server-side. Ignored if x is a \code{Table}.}
+
+\item{...}{Additional arguments passed to \code{\link[=arc_select]{arc_select()}} if URL is a
+\code{FeatureLayer} or \code{Table} or \code{\link[=arc_raster]{arc_raster()}} if URL is an \code{ImageLayer}.}
+
+\item{fields}{a character vector of the field names that you wish to be
+returned. By default all fields are returned.}
+
+\item{token}{your authorization token. By default checks the environment
+variable \code{ARCGIS_TOKEN}. Set your token using \code{arcgisutils::set_auth_token()}.}
+}
+\value{
+An sf object, a \code{data.frame}, or an object of class \code{SpatRaster}.
+}
+\description{
+\code{\link[=arc_read]{arc_read()}} combines the functionality of \code{\link[=arc_open]{arc_open()}} with \code{\link[=arc_select]{arc_select()}}
+or \code{\link[=arc_raster]{arc_raster()}} to read an ArcGIS FeatureLayer, Table, or ImageServer to a
+\code{sf} object or object of class \code{SpatRaster}. Optionally set, check, or modify
+names for the returned data frame or sf object using the \code{col_names} and
+\code{name_repair} parameters.
+}
+\details{
+\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#experimental}{\figure{lifecycle-experimental.svg}{options: alt='[Experimental]'}}}{\strong{[Experimental]}}
+}
+\examples{
+if (interactive()) {
+ url <- "https://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/Census/MapServer/3"
+
+ arc_read(url)
+
+ # apply tolower() to column names
+ arc_read(url, name_repair = tolower)
+
+ url <- "https://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/EmergencyFacilities/FeatureServer/0"
+
+ # use field aliases as column names
+ arc_read(url, col_names = "alias")
+
+ # read an ImageServer directly
+ img_url <- "https://landsat2.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/Landsat/MS/ImageServer"
+
+ arc_read(
+   img_url,
+   width = 1000, height = 1000,
+   xmin = -71, ymin = 43,
+   xmax = -67, ymax = 47.5,
+   bbox_crs = 4326
+ )
+}
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-arc_read.R b/tests/testthat/test-arc_read.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aea1bff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-arc_read.R
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+test_that("arc_read(): FeatureServer can be read", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Counties_Generalized_Boundaries/FeatureServer/0"
+
+  layer <- arc_read(furl)
+
+  # if any errors occur above here the test will fail
+  expect_true(TRUE)
+})
+
+
+test_that("arc_read(): ImageServer can be read", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  img_url <- "https://landsat2.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/Landsat/MS/ImageServer"
+
+  res <- arc_read(
+    img_url,
+    xmin = -71,
+    ymin = 43,
+    xmax = -67,
+    ymax = 47.5,
+    crs = 4326,
+    height = 50,
+    width = 50
+  )
+
+  expect_s4_class(res, "SpatRaster")
+  expect_equal(attr(class(res), "package"), "terra")
+
+})
+
+
+test_that("arc_read(): name_repair works", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Counties_Generalized_Boundaries/FeatureServer/0"
+
+  col_select <- c("NAME", "FIPS")
+
+  layer <- arc_read(furl, col_select = col_select, name_repair = tolower)
+
+  expect_named(layer, c("name", "fips", "geometry"))
+
+  layer <- arc_read(furl, col_select = col_select, col_names = c("Name", "FIPS Code"))
+
+  expect_named(layer, c("Name", "FIPS Code", "geometry"))
+
+  expect_error(
+    arc_read(furl, col_select = col_select, col_names = c("Name", "Name"), name_repair = "check_unique")
+  )
+})
+
+test_that("arc_read(): n_max is correct", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Counties_Generalized_Boundaries/FeatureServer/0"
+
+  expect_equal(nrow(arc_read(furl, n_max = 1)), 1L)
+  expect_equal(nrow(arc_read(furl, n_max = 1234)), 1234L)
+
+})
+
+
+test_that("arc_read(): n_max option is respected", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Counties_Generalized_Boundaries/FeatureServer/0"
+
+  # set n_max via options
+  options("arcgislayers.n_max" = 1234)
+
+  layer <- arc_read(furl)
+  expect_equal(nrow(layer), 1234L)
+})
+
+test_that("arc_read(): n_max option is ignored when n_max is set", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Counties_Generalized_Boundaries/FeatureServer/0"
+
+  # set n_max via options
+  options("arcgislayers.n_max" = 1234)
+
+  layer <- arc_read(furl, n_max = 321)
+  expect_equal(nrow(layer), 321L)
+})
+
+test_that("arc_read(): correct error with unsupported type", {
+  skip_on_cran()
+  furl <- "https://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/Census/MapServer"
+  expect_error(arc_read(furl), "is not a supported type")
+})