diff --git a/mkdocs/localization.py b/mkdocs/localization.py
index 5ec58077..c2eb6fb9 100644
--- a/mkdocs/localization.py
+++ b/mkdocs/localization.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class NoBabelExtension(InternationalizationExtension):  # pragma: no cover
         )
 
 
-def parse_locale(locale: str) -> Locale:
+def parse_locale(locale) -> Locale:
     try:
         return Locale.parse(locale, sep='_')
     except (ValueError, UnknownLocaleError, TypeError) as e:
diff --git a/mkdocs/tests/config/config_tests.py b/mkdocs/tests/config/config_tests.py
index 7144e75f..e0981789 100644
--- a/mkdocs/tests/config/config_tests.py
+++ b/mkdocs/tests/config/config_tests.py
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 'dirs': [os.path.join(theme_dir, 'mkdocs'), mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['404.html', 'sitemap.xml'],
                 'vars': {
+                    'name': 'mkdocs',
                     'locale': parse_locale('en'),
                     'include_search_page': False,
                     'search_index_only': False,
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 'dirs': [os.path.join(theme_dir, 'readthedocs'), mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['404.html', 'sitemap.xml'],
                 'vars': {
+                    'name': 'readthedocs',
                     'locale': parse_locale('en'),
                     'include_search_page': True,
                     'search_index_only': False,
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 'dirs': [os.path.join(theme_dir, 'readthedocs'), mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['404.html', 'sitemap.xml'],
                 'vars': {
+                    'name': 'readthedocs',
                     'locale': parse_locale('en'),
                     'include_search_page': True,
                     'search_index_only': False,
@@ -161,12 +164,13 @@ class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
             {
                 'dirs': [mytheme, mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['sitemap.xml'],
-                'vars': {'locale': parse_locale('en')},
+                'vars': {'name': None, 'locale': parse_locale('en')},
             },
             {
                 'dirs': [custom, os.path.join(theme_dir, 'readthedocs'), mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['404.html', 'sitemap.xml'],
                 'vars': {
+                    'name': 'readthedocs',
                     'locale': parse_locale('en'),
                     'include_search_page': True,
                     'search_index_only': False,
@@ -186,6 +190,7 @@ class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 'dirs': [os.path.join(theme_dir, 'mkdocs'), mkdocs_templates_dir],
                 'static_templates': ['404.html', 'sitemap.xml', 'foo.html'],
                 'vars': {
+                    'name': 'mkdocs',
                     'locale': parse_locale('fr'),
                     'show_sidebar': False,
                     'some_var': 'bar',
diff --git a/mkdocs/tests/theme_tests.py b/mkdocs/tests/theme_tests.py
index ad8a8d4f..213e2644 100644
--- a/mkdocs/tests/theme_tests.py
+++ b/mkdocs/tests/theme_tests.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class ThemeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             get_vars(theme),
             {
+                'name': 'mkdocs',
                 'locale': parse_locale('en'),
                 'include_search_page': False,
                 'search_index_only': False,