diff --git a/django/utils/dateformat.py b/django/utils/dateformat.py
index 00eb9fe617b..e3712175af1 100644
--- a/django/utils/dateformat.py
+++ b/django/utils/dateformat.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from django.utils.tzinfo import LocalTimezone
 from calendar import isleap, monthrange
 import re, time
 
-re_formatchars = re.compile(r'(?<!\\)([aABdDfFgGhHiIjlLmMnNOPrsStTUwWyYzZ])')
+re_formatchars = re.compile(r'(?<!\\)([aAbBdDfFgGhHiIjlLmMnNOPrsStTUwWyYzZ])')
 re_escaped = re.compile(r'\\(.)')
 
 class Formatter(object):
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ class DateFormat(TimeFormat):
         if hasattr(self.data, 'hour') and not self.timezone:
             self.timezone = LocalTimezone(dt)
 
+    def b(self):
+        "Month, textual, 3 letters, lowercase; e.g. 'jan'"
+        return MONTHS_3[self.data.month]
+
     def d(self):
         "Day of the month, 2 digits with leading zeros; i.e. '01' to '31'"
         return '%02d' % self.data.day
diff --git a/docs/templates.txt b/docs/templates.txt
index 5a007c13aee..d53270ac168 100644
--- a/docs/templates.txt
+++ b/docs/templates.txt
@@ -645,6 +645,7 @@ Available format strings:
                       output, because this includes periods
                       to match Associated Press style.)
     A                 ``'AM'`` or ``'PM'``.                     ``'AM'``
+    b                 Month, textual, 3 letters, lowercase.     ``'jan'``
     B                 Not implemented.
     d                 Day of the month, 2 digits with           ``'01'`` to ``'31'``
                       leading zeros.
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/dateformat/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/dateformat/tests.py
index 6e28759a92e..f9f84145c5a 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/dateformat/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/dateformat/tests.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ r"""
 '07'
 >>> format(my_birthday, 'M')
 'Jul'
+>>> format(my_birthday, 'b')
+'jul'
 >>> format(my_birthday, 'n')
 '7'
 >>> format(my_birthday, 'N')