diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4b63771cc4..87aa8a21c3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -730,6 +730,7 @@ Full contributing [guidelines are covered here](https://github.com/terraform-aws
 | <a name="input_node_security_group_tags"></a> [node\_security\_group\_tags](#input\_node\_security\_group\_tags) | A map of additional tags to add to the node security group created | `map(string)` | `{}` | no |
 | <a name="input_node_security_group_use_name_prefix"></a> [node\_security\_group\_use\_name\_prefix](#input\_node\_security\_group\_use\_name\_prefix) | Determines whether node security group name (`node_security_group_name`) is used as a prefix | `string` | `true` | no |
 | <a name="input_openid_connect_audiences"></a> [openid\_connect\_audiences](#input\_openid\_connect\_audiences) | List of OpenID Connect audience client IDs to add to the IRSA provider | `list(string)` | `[]` | no |
+| <a name="input_prefix_separator"></a> [prefix\_separator](#input\_prefix\_separator) | The separator to use between the prefix and the generated timestamp for resource names | `string` | `"-"` | no |
 | <a name="input_self_managed_node_group_defaults"></a> [self\_managed\_node\_group\_defaults](#input\_self\_managed\_node\_group\_defaults) | Map of self-managed node group default configurations | `any` | `{}` | no |
 | <a name="input_self_managed_node_groups"></a> [self\_managed\_node\_groups](#input\_self\_managed\_node\_groups) | Map of self-managed node group definitions to create | `any` | `{}` | no |
 | <a name="input_subnet_ids"></a> [subnet\_ids](#input\_subnet\_ids) | A list of subnet IDs where the EKS cluster (ENIs) will be provisioned along with the nodes/node groups. Node groups can be deployed within a different set of subnet IDs from within the node group configuration | `list(string)` | `[]` | no |
diff --git a/UPGRADE-18.0.md b/UPGRADE-18.0.md
index 0c6d56dde6..f719fcea45 100644
--- a/UPGRADE-18.0.md
+++ b/UPGRADE-18.0.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Please consult the `examples` directory for reference example configurations. If
       - The underlying autoscaling group and launch template have been updated to more closely match that of the [`terraform-aws-autoscaling`](https://github.com/terraform-aws-modules/terraform-aws-autoscaling) module and the features it offers
       - The previous iteration used a count over a list of node group definitions which was prone to disruptive updates; this is now replaced with a map/for_each to align with that of the EKS managed node group and Fargate profile behaviors/style
 - The user data configuration supported across the module has been completely revamped. A new `_user_data` internal sub-module has been created to consolidate all user data configuration in one location which provides better support for testability (via the [`examples/user_data`](https://github.com/terraform-aws-modules/terraform-aws-eks/tree/master/examples/user_data) example). The new sub-module supports nearly all possible combinations including the ability to allow users to provide their own user data template which will be rendered by the module. See the `examples/user_data` example project for the full plethora of example configuration possibilities and more details on the logic of the design can be found in the [`modules/_user_data`](https://github.com/terraform-aws-modules/terraform-aws-eks/tree/master/modules/_user_data_) directory.
+- Resource name changes may cause issues with existing resources. For example, security groups and IAM roles cannot be renamed, they must be recreated. Recreation of these resources may also trigger a recreation of the cluster. To use the legacy (< 18.x) resource naming convention, set `prefix_separator` to "".
 
 ## Additional changes
 
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ Please consult the `examples` directory for reference example configurations. If
     - `cluster_addons`
     - `cluster_identity_providers`
     - `fargate_profile_defaults`
+    - `prefix_separator` added to support legacy behavior of not having a prefix separator
     - EKS Managed Node Group sub-module (was `node_groups`)
       - `platform`
       - `enable_bootstrap_user_data`
diff --git a/main.tf b/main.tf
index 4817f96047..3a01c64fef 100644
--- a/main.tf
+++ b/main.tf
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ resource "aws_security_group" "cluster" {
   count = local.create_cluster_sg ? 1 : 0
 
   name        = var.cluster_security_group_use_name_prefix ? null : local.cluster_sg_name
-  name_prefix = var.cluster_security_group_use_name_prefix ? "${local.cluster_sg_name}-" : null
+  name_prefix = var.cluster_security_group_use_name_prefix ? "${local.cluster_sg_name}${var.prefix_separator}" : null
   description = var.cluster_security_group_description
   vpc_id      = var.vpc_id
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ resource "aws_iam_role" "this" {
   count = var.create && var.create_iam_role ? 1 : 0
 
   name        = var.iam_role_use_name_prefix ? null : local.iam_role_name
-  name_prefix = var.iam_role_use_name_prefix ? "${local.iam_role_name}-" : null
+  name_prefix = var.iam_role_use_name_prefix ? "${local.iam_role_name}${var.prefix_separator}" : null
   path        = var.iam_role_path
   description = var.iam_role_description
 
diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index 1eb33bfc2c..5e715b1b8c 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ variable "tags" {
   default     = {}
 }
 
+variable "prefix_separator" {
+  description = "The separator to use between the prefix and the generated timestamp for resource names"
+  type        = string
+  default     = "-"
+}
+
 ################################################################################
 # Cluster
 ################################################################################