diff --git a/docs/resources/changelog.md b/docs/resources/changelog.md
index 7b1f2e9c3..0bd2e6d57 100644
--- a/docs/resources/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/resources/changelog.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ _During the beta period, these restrictions may be relaxed in the event of a mis
 
 ## Next
 
+- 🚨 BREAKING: changed the `alt` attribute to `label` in `<sl-avatar>` for consistency with other components
 - Added `role="status"` to `<sl-spinner>`
 - Fixed broken spinner animation in Safari [#633](https://github.com/shoelace-style/shoelace/issues/633)
 - Fixed an a11y bug in `<sl-tooltip>` where `aria-describedby` referenced an id in the shadow root
diff --git a/src/components/avatar/avatar.test.ts b/src/components/avatar/avatar.test.ts
index 165b8d749..c964aacef 100644
--- a/src/components/avatar/avatar.test.ts
+++ b/src/components/avatar/avatar.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
 
   describe('when provided no parameters', async () => {
     before(async () => {
-      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html` <sl-avatar alt="Avatar"></sl-avatar> `);
+      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html` <sl-avatar label="Avatar"></sl-avatar> `);
     });
 
     it('passes accessibility test', async () => {
@@ -22,18 +22,18 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('when provided an image and alt parameter', async () => {
+  describe('when provided an image and label parameter', async () => {
     const image =
       'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1529778873920-4da4926a72c2?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=300&q=80';
-    const alt = 'Gray tabby kitten looking down';
+    const label = 'Gray tabby kitten looking down';
     before(async () => {
-      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar image="${image}" alt="${alt}"></sl-avatar>`);
+      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar image="${image}" label="${label}"></sl-avatar>`);
     });
 
     it('passes accessibility test', async () => {
       /**
        * The image element itself is ancillary, because it's parent container contains the
-       * aria-label which dictates what "sl-avatar" is. This also implies that alt text will
+       * aria-label which dictates what "sl-avatar" is. This also implies that label text will
        * resolve to "" when not provided and ignored by readers. This is why we use alt="" on
        * the image element to pass accessibility.
        * https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/images.html#ancillary-images
@@ -47,17 +47,15 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
       expect(part.getAttribute('src')).to.eq(image);
     });
 
-    it('renders the alt attribute in the "base" part', async () => {
+    it('renders the label attribute in the "base" part', async () => {
       const part = el.shadowRoot?.querySelector('[part="base"]') as HTMLElement;
 
-      expect(part.getAttribute('aria-label')).to.eq(alt);
+      expect(part.getAttribute('aria-label')).to.eq(label);
     });
 
     describe('when an error occurs when attempting to load the image', async () => {
       before(async () => {
-        el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(
-          html`<sl-avatar image="data:text/plain;not-an-image-url" alt="${alt}"></sl-avatar>`
-        );
+        el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar image="about:config" label="${label}"></sl-avatar>`);
       });
 
       it('does not render the "image" part', async () => {
@@ -71,7 +69,7 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
   describe('when provided initials parameter', async () => {
     const initials = 'SL';
     before(async () => {
-      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar initials="${initials}" alt="Avatar"></sl-avatar>`);
+      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar initials="${initials}" label="Avatar"></sl-avatar>`);
     });
 
     it('passes accessibility test', async () => {
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
   ['square', 'rounded', 'circle'].forEach(shape => {
     describe(`when passed a shape attribute ${shape}`, () => {
       before(async () => {
-        el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar shape="${shape as any}" alt="Shaped avatar"></sl-avatar>`);
+        el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar shape="${shape as any}" label="Shaped avatar"></sl-avatar>`);
       });
 
       it('passes accessibility test', async () => {
@@ -106,7 +104,7 @@ describe('<sl-avatar>', () => {
 
   describe('when passed a <span>, on slot "icon"', async () => {
     before(async () => {
-      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar alt="Avatar"><span slot="icon">random content</span></sl-avatar>`);
+      el = await fixture<SlAvatar>(html`<sl-avatar label="Avatar"><span slot="icon">random content</span></sl-avatar>`);
     });
 
     it('passes accessibility test', async () => {
diff --git a/src/components/avatar/avatar.ts b/src/components/avatar/avatar.ts
index df8c20469..6bd85f69e 100644
--- a/src/components/avatar/avatar.ts
+++ b/src/components/avatar/avatar.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ export default class SlAvatar extends LitElement {
   /** The image source to use for the avatar. */
   @property() image: string;
 
-  /** Alternative text for the image. */
-  @property() alt: string;
+  /** A label to use to describe the avatar to assistive devices. */
+  @property() label: string;
 
   /** Initials to use as a fallback when no image is available (1-2 characters max recommended). */
   @property() initials: string;
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export default class SlAvatar extends LitElement {
           'avatar--square': this.shape === 'square'
         })}
         role="img"
-        aria-label=${this.alt}
+        aria-label=${this.label}
       >
         ${this.initials
           ? html` <div part="initials" class="avatar__initials">${this.initials}</div> `