diff --git a/include/cantera/base/AnyMap.h b/include/cantera/base/AnyMap.h
index 9c33d510f..332a01843 100644
--- a/include/cantera/base/AnyMap.h
+++ b/include/cantera/base/AnyMap.h
@@ -103,6 +103,18 @@ public:
     template<class T>
     std::map<std::string, T> asMap() const;
 
+    //! Access a vector<AnyMap> as a mapping using the value of `name` from each
+    //! item as the key in the new mapping.
+    /*!
+     * For example, for the list:
+     * ```
+     * [{name: O2, weight: 32}, {name: CH4, weight: 16}]
+     * ```
+     * calling `asMap("name")` will create a map with keys ``O2`` and ``CH4``.
+     */
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, const AnyMap*> asMap(const std::string& name) const;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, AnyMap*> asMap(const std::string& name);
+
     //! @see AnyMap::applyUnits
     void applyUnits(const UnitSystem& units);
 
diff --git a/src/base/AnyMap.cpp b/src/base/AnyMap.cpp
index b2e728222..1847531bc 100644
--- a/src/base/AnyMap.cpp
+++ b/src/base/AnyMap.cpp
@@ -361,6 +361,33 @@ AnyValue& AnyValue::operator=(AnyMap&& value) {
     return *this;
 }
 
+std::unordered_map<std::string, const AnyMap*> AnyValue::asMap(
+    const std::string& name) const
+{
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, const AnyMap*> mapped;
+    for (const auto& item : asVector<AnyMap>()) {
+        auto key = item.at(name).asString();
+        if (mapped.count(key)) {
+            throw CanteraError("AnyValue::asMap", "Duplicate key '{}'", key);
+        }
+        mapped.emplace(std::make_pair(key, &item));
+    }
+    return mapped;
+}
+
+std::unordered_map<std::string, AnyMap*> AnyValue::asMap(const std::string& name)
+{
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, AnyMap*> mapped;
+    for (auto& item : asVector<AnyMap>()) {
+        auto key = item.at(name).asString();
+        if (mapped.count(key)) {
+            throw CanteraError("AnyValue::asMap", "Duplicate key '{}'", key);
+        }
+        mapped.emplace(std::make_pair(key, &item));
+    }
+    return mapped;
+}
+
 void AnyValue::applyUnits(const UnitSystem& units)
 {
     if (is<AnyMap>()) {