diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dd3f274..738d454 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ mysite/
 │       └── my-story.html
 ├── jinjabread.toml
 ├── layouts
-│   └── base.html
+│   └── markdown.html
 ├── public
 │   ├── about.html
 │   ├── index.html
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ prettify_html = true
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.MarkdownPage"
   glob_pattern = "**/*.md"
-  layout_name = "base.html"
+  layout_name = "markdown.html"
 
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.Page"
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ output_dir = "dist"
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.MarkdownPage"
   glob_pattern = "**/*.md"
-  layout_name = "base.html"
+  layout_name = "markdown.html"
 
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.Page"
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ It was a cold stormy night...
 ```
 
 ```html
-<!-- layouts/base.html -->
+<!-- layouts/markdown.html -->
 <h1>{{ title }}</h1>
 <h2>{{ description }}</h2>
 <h3>Written by {{ author }}</h3>
diff --git a/jinjabread/defaults.toml b/jinjabread/defaults.toml
index 60659f9..e81a523 100644
--- a/jinjabread/defaults.toml
+++ b/jinjabread/defaults.toml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ prettify_html = true
 
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.MarkdownPage"
-  layout_name = "base.html"
+  layout_name = "markdown.html"
 
 [[pages]]
   type = "jinjabread.Page"
diff --git a/jinjabread/new.py b/jinjabread/new.py
index 36551ac..97fa891 100644
--- a/jinjabread/new.py
+++ b/jinjabread/new.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def new(*, project_dir=None):
 This is my new website.
 """.lstrip()
         )
-    layout_file = project_dir / "layouts" / "base.html"
+    layout_file = project_dir / "layouts" / "markdown.html"
     layout_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
     with layout_file.open("w") as file:
         file.write(
diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content/layouts/base.html b/tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content/layouts/markdown.html
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content/layouts/base.html
rename to tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content/layouts/markdown.html
diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content_with_directory_siblings/layouts/base.html b/tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content_with_directory_siblings/layouts/markdown.html
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content_with_directory_siblings/layouts/base.html
rename to tests/test_data/test_directory_index_markdown_content_with_directory_siblings/layouts/markdown.html
diff --git a/tests/test_data/test_markdown_content/layouts/base.html b/tests/test_data/test_markdown_content/layouts/markdown.html
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/test_data/test_markdown_content/layouts/base.html
rename to tests/test_data/test_markdown_content/layouts/markdown.html
diff --git a/tests/tests.py b/tests/tests.py
index ac74b0a..8d7129d 100644
--- a/tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/tests.py
@@ -160,13 +160,13 @@ def test_html_content_extends_layout(self):
         with content_path.open("w") as file:
             file.write(
                 """
-                {% extends 'base.html' %}
+                {% extends 'markdown.html' %}
                 {% block body %}
                 <p>Blah blah blah</p>
                 {% endblock body %}
                 """
             )
-        layout_path = self.working_dir / "layouts" / "base.html"
+        layout_path = self.working_dir / "layouts" / "markdown.html"
         layout_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         with layout_path.open("w") as file:
             file.write(