diff --git a/docs/language/api.rst b/docs/language/api.rst
index a31b6c8..f36cbd5 100644
--- a/docs/language/api.rst
+++ b/docs/language/api.rst
@@ -785,19 +785,15 @@ defsharp
 .. versionadded:: 0.13.0
 
 ``defsharp`` defines a sharp macro. A sharp macro is a unary macro that has the
-same semantics as an ordinary macro defined with ``defmacro``, but can be
-called without parentheses and with less whitespace. The name of a sharp macro
-must be exactly one character long. It is called with the syntax ``#cFORM``,
-where ``#`` is a literal sharp sign (hence the term "sharp macro"), ``c`` is
-the name of the macro, and ``FORM`` is any form. Whitspace is forbidden between
-``#`` and ``c``. Whitespace is allowed between ``c`` and ``FORM``, but not
-required.
+same semantics as an ordinary macro defined with ``defmacro``. It is called with
+the syntax ``#tag FORM``, where ``tag`` is the name of the macro, and ``FORM``
+is any form. The ``tag`` is often only one character, but it can be any symbol.
 
 .. code-block:: clj
 
     => (defsharp ♣ [expr] `[~expr ~expr])
     <function <lambda> at 0x7f76d0271158>
-    => #♣5
+    => #♣ 5
     [5, 5]
     => (setv x 0)
     => #♣(+= x 1)
diff --git a/docs/tutorial.rst b/docs/tutorial.rst
index f0231cd..030a136 100644
--- a/docs/tutorial.rst
+++ b/docs/tutorial.rst
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ elements, so by the time program started executing, it actually reads:
   (+ 1 2 3)
 
 Sometimes it's nice to be able to call a one-parameter macro without
-parentheses. Sharp macros allow this. The name of a sharp macro must be only
+parentheses. Sharp macros allow this. The name of a sharp macro is typically
 one character long, but since Hy operates well with Unicode, we aren't running
 out of characters that soon:
 
diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 157cdcb..d9c11b1
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -2470,7 +2470,7 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
     def compile_sharp_macro(self, expression):
         expression.pop(0)
         name = expression.pop(0)
-        if name == ":" or name == "&" or len(name) > 1:
+        if name == ":" or name == "&":
             raise NameError("%s can't be used as a sharp macro name" % name)
         if not isinstance(name, HySymbol) and not isinstance(name, HyString):
             raise HyTypeError(name,
@@ -2490,14 +2490,15 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
     @checkargs(exact=2)
     def compile_dispatch_sharp_macro(self, expression):
         expression.pop(0)  # dispatch-sharp-macro
-        str_char = expression.pop(0)
-        if not type(str_char) == HyString:
+        tag = expression.pop(0)
+        if not type(tag) == HyString:
             raise HyTypeError(
-                str_char,
+                tag,
                 "Trying to expand a sharp macro using `{0}' instead "
-                "of string".format(type(str_char).__name__),
+                "of string".format(type(tag).__name__),
             )
-        expr = sharp_macroexpand(str_char, expression.pop(0), self)
+        tag = HyString(hy_symbol_mangle(str(tag))).replace(tag)
+        expr = sharp_macroexpand(tag, expression.pop(0), self)
         return self.compile(expr)
 
     @builds("eval_and_compile")
diff --git a/hy/lex/lexer.py b/hy/lex/lexer.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 4039543..c6b5636
--- a/hy/lex/lexer.py
+++ b/hy/lex/lexer.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ lg = LexerGenerator()
 # i.e. a space or a closing brace/paren/curly
 end_quote = r'(?![\s\)\]\}])'
 
+identifier = r'[^()\[\]{}\'"\s;]+'
 
 lg.add('LPAREN', r'\(')
 lg.add('RPAREN', r'\)')
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ lg.add('QUASIQUOTE', r'`%s' % end_quote)
 lg.add('UNQUOTESPLICE', r'~@%s' % end_quote)
 lg.add('UNQUOTE', r'~%s' % end_quote)
 lg.add('HASHBANG', r'#!.*[^\r\n]')
-lg.add('HASHOTHER', r'#[^{]')
+lg.add('HASHOTHER', r'#%s' % identifier)
 
 # A regexp which matches incomplete strings, used to support
 # multi-line strings in the interpreter
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ partial_string = r'''(?x)
 lg.add('STRING', r'%s"' % partial_string)
 lg.add('PARTIAL_STRING', partial_string)
 
-lg.add('IDENTIFIER', r'[^()\[\]{}\'"\s;]+')
+lg.add('IDENTIFIER', identifier)
 
 
 lg.ignore(r';.*(?=\r|\n|$)')
diff --git a/hy/lex/parser.py b/hy/lex/parser.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 6e1aa09..e43d188
--- a/hy/lex/parser.py
+++ b/hy/lex/parser.py
@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ def term_unquote_splice(p):
 @pg.production("term : HASHOTHER term")
 @set_quote_boundaries
 def hash_other(p):
-    st = p[0].getstr()[1]
+    # p == [(Token('HASHOTHER', '#foo'), bar)]
+    st = p[0].getstr()[1:]
     str_object = HyString(st)
     expr = p[1]
     return HyExpression([HySymbol("dispatch_sharp_macro"), str_object, expr])
diff --git a/hy/macros.py b/hy/macros.py
index 84b192f..3da2bdb 100644
--- a/hy/macros.py
+++ b/hy/macros.py
@@ -210,18 +210,18 @@ def macroexpand_1(tree, compiler):
     return tree
 
 
-def sharp_macroexpand(char, tree, compiler):
-    """Expand the sharp macro "char" with argument `tree`."""
+def sharp_macroexpand(tag, tree, compiler):
+    """Expand the sharp macro "tag" with argument `tree`."""
     load_macros(compiler.module_name)
 
-    sharp_macro = _hy_sharp[compiler.module_name].get(char)
+    sharp_macro = _hy_sharp[compiler.module_name].get(tag)
     if sharp_macro is None:
         try:
-            sharp_macro = _hy_sharp[None][char]
+            sharp_macro = _hy_sharp[None][tag]
         except KeyError:
             raise HyTypeError(
-                char,
-                "`{0}' is not a defined sharp macro.".format(char)
+                tag,
+                "`{0}' is not a defined sharp macro.".format(tag)
             )
 
     expr = sharp_macro(tree)