diff --git a/djadmin2/templates/admin2/bootstrap/model_list.html b/djadmin2/templates/admin2/bootstrap/model_list.html
index 9da5db2..e021a68 100644
--- a/djadmin2/templates/admin2/bootstrap/model_list.html
+++ b/djadmin2/templates/admin2/bootstrap/model_list.html
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
             {% if forloop.first and attr == "__str__" %}
               <th>{{ model_name|capfirst }}</th>
             {% else %}
-              <th>{{ attr }}</th>
+              <th>{{ model|model_attr_verbose_name:attr|capfirst }}</th>
             {% endif%}
           {% endfor %}
         </thead>
diff --git a/djadmin2/templatetags/admin2_tags.py b/djadmin2/templatetags/admin2_tags.py
index b54756c..48f45b2 100644
--- a/djadmin2/templatetags/admin2_tags.py
+++ b/djadmin2/templatetags/admin2_tags.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from django import template
+from django.db.models.fields import FieldDoesNotExist
 
 register = template.Library()
 
@@ -37,6 +38,17 @@ def model_verbose_name_plural(obj):
     return utils.model_verbose_name_plural(obj)
 
 
+@register.filter
+def model_attr_verbose_name(obj, attr):
+    """
+    Returns the verbose name of a model field or method.
+    """
+    try:
+        return utils.model_field_verbose_name(obj, attr)
+    except FieldDoesNotExist:
+        return utils.model_method_verbose_name(obj, attr)
+
+
 @register.filter
 def formset_visible_fieldlist(formset):
     """
diff --git a/djadmin2/tests/test_admin2tags.py b/djadmin2/tests/test_admin2tags.py
index b51bb87..a2c3cfc 100644
--- a/djadmin2/tests/test_admin2tags.py
+++ b/djadmin2/tests/test_admin2tags.py
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ from ..views import IndexView
 
 class TagsTestsModel(models.Model):
 
+    field1 = models.CharField(max_length=23)
+    field2 = models.CharField('second field', max_length=42)
+
+    def was_published_recently(self):
+        return True
+    was_published_recently.boolean = True
+    was_published_recently.short_description = 'Published recently?'
+
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = "Tags Test Model"
         verbose_name_plural = "Tags Test Models"
@@ -58,6 +66,24 @@ class TagsTests(TestCase):
             admin2_tags.model_verbose_name_plural(self.instance)
         )
 
+    def test_model_field_verbose_name_autogenerated(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'field1',
+            admin2_tags.model_attr_verbose_name(self.instance, 'field1')
+        )
+
+    def test_model_field_verbose_name_overridden(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'second field',
+            admin2_tags.model_attr_verbose_name(self.instance, 'field2')
+        )
+
+    def test_model_method_verbose_name(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'Published recently?',
+            admin2_tags.model_attr_verbose_name(self.instance, 'was_published_recently')
+        )
+
     def test_formset_visible_fieldlist(self):
         formset = TagsTestFormSet()
         self.assertEquals(
diff --git a/djadmin2/tests/test_utils.py b/djadmin2/tests/test_utils.py
index 2528592..c4f32c1 100644
--- a/djadmin2/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/djadmin2/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -7,6 +7,17 @@ from ..views import IndexView
 
 class UtilsTestModel(models.Model):
 
+    field1 = models.CharField(max_length=23)
+    field2 = models.CharField('second field', max_length=42)
+
+    def simple_method(self):
+        return 42
+
+    def was_published_recently(self):
+        return True
+    was_published_recently.boolean = True
+    was_published_recently.short_description = 'Published recently?'
+
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = "Utils Test Model"
         verbose_name_plural = "Utils Test Models"
@@ -71,6 +82,30 @@ class UtilsTest(TestCase):
             utils.model_verbose_name_plural(self.instance)
         )
 
+    def test_model_field_verbose_name_autogenerated(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'field1',
+            utils.model_field_verbose_name(self.instance, 'field1')
+        )
+
+    def test_model_field_verbose_name_overridden(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'second field',
+            utils.model_field_verbose_name(self.instance, 'field2')
+        )
+
+    def test_model_method_verbose_name(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'Published recently?',
+            utils.model_method_verbose_name(self.instance, 'was_published_recently')
+        )
+
+    def test_model_method_verbose_name_fallback(self):
+        self.assertEquals(
+            'simple_method',
+            utils.model_method_verbose_name(self.instance, 'simple_method')
+        )
+
     def test_app_label_as_model_class(self):
         self.assertEquals(
             UtilsTestModel._meta.app_label,
diff --git a/djadmin2/utils.py b/djadmin2/utils.py
index fd63458..fa34af0 100644
--- a/djadmin2/utils.py
+++ b/djadmin2/utils.py
@@ -41,18 +41,39 @@ def admin2_urlname(view, action):
     return 'admin2:%s_%s_%s' % (view.app_label, view.model_name, action)
 
 
-def model_verbose_name(obj):
+def model_verbose_name(model):
     """
     Returns the verbose name of a model instance or class.
     """
-    return model_options(obj).verbose_name
+    return model_options(model).verbose_name
 
 
-def model_verbose_name_plural(obj):
+def model_verbose_name_plural(model):
     """
     Returns the pluralized verbose name of a model instance or class.
     """
-    return model_options(obj).verbose_name_plural
+    return model_options(model).verbose_name_plural
+
+
+def model_field_verbose_name(model, field_name):
+    """
+    Returns the verbose name of a model field.
+    """
+    meta = model_options(model)
+    field = meta.get_field_by_name(field_name)[0]
+    return field.verbose_name
+
+
+def model_method_verbose_name(model, method_name):
+    """
+    Returns the verbose name / short description of a model field.
+    """
+    meta = model_options(model)
+    method = getattr(model, method_name)
+    try:
+        return method.short_description
+    except AttributeError:
+        return method_name
 
 
 def model_app_label(obj):