diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/nldev.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/nldev.c
index e9b4b2cccaa0..3f6b98a87566 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/nldev.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/nldev.c
@@ -969,7 +969,8 @@ static int fill_stat_counter_hwcounters(struct sk_buff *msg,
 		return -EMSGSIZE;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < st->num_counters; i++)
-		if (rdma_nl_stat_hwcounter_entry(msg, st->names[i], st->value[i]))
+		if (rdma_nl_stat_hwcounter_entry(msg, st->descs[i].name,
+						 st->value[i]))
 			goto err;
 
 	nla_nest_end(msg, table_attr);
@@ -2105,7 +2106,8 @@ static int stat_get_doit_default_counter(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	for (i = 0; i < num_cnts; i++) {
 		v = stats->value[i] +
 			rdma_counter_get_hwstat_value(device, port, i);
-		if (rdma_nl_stat_hwcounter_entry(msg, stats->names[i], v)) {
+		if (rdma_nl_stat_hwcounter_entry(msg,
+						 stats->descs[i].name, v)) {
 			ret = -EMSGSIZE;
 			goto err_table;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/sysfs.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/sysfs.c
index 6146c3c1cbe5..c3663cfdcd52 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/sysfs.c
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ alloc_hw_stats_device(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 	stats = ibdev->ops.alloc_hw_device_stats(ibdev);
 	if (!stats)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
-	if (!stats->names || stats->num_counters <= 0)
+	if (!stats->descs || stats->num_counters <= 0)
 		goto err_free_stats;
 
 	/*
@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ int ib_setup_device_attrs(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 	for (i = 0; i < data->stats->num_counters; i++) {
 		attr = &data->attrs[i];
 		sysfs_attr_init(&attr->attr.attr);
-		attr->attr.attr.name = data->stats->names[i];
+		attr->attr.attr.name = data->stats->descs[i].name;
 		attr->attr.attr.mode = 0444;
 		attr->attr.show = hw_stat_device_show;
 		attr->show = show_hw_stats;
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ alloc_hw_stats_port(struct ib_port *port, struct attribute_group *group)
 	stats = ibdev->ops.alloc_hw_port_stats(port->ibdev, port->port_num);
 	if (!stats)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
-	if (!stats->names || stats->num_counters <= 0)
+	if (!stats->descs || stats->num_counters <= 0)
 		goto err_free_stats;
 
 	/*
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ static int setup_hw_port_stats(struct ib_port *port,
 	for (i = 0; i < data->stats->num_counters; i++) {
 		attr = &data->attrs[i];
 		sysfs_attr_init(&attr->attr.attr);
-		attr->attr.attr.name = data->stats->names[i];
+		attr->attr.attr.name = data->stats->descs[i].name;
 		attr->attr.attr.mode = 0444;
 		attr->attr.show = hw_stat_port_show;
 		attr->show = show_hw_stats;
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/bnxt_re/hw_counters.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/bnxt_re/hw_counters.c
index 1c06c9cf234b..78ca6dfd182b 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/bnxt_re/hw_counters.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/bnxt_re/hw_counters.c
@@ -57,74 +57,72 @@
 #include "bnxt_re.h"
 #include "hw_counters.h"
 
-static const char * const bnxt_re_stat_name[] = {
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_PD]		=  "active_pds",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_AH]		=  "active_ahs",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_QP]		=  "active_qps",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_SRQ]		=  "active_srqs",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_CQ]		=  "active_cqs",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_MR]		=  "active_mrs",
-	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_MW]		=  "active_mws",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_PKTS]		=  "rx_pkts",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_BYTES]		=  "rx_bytes",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_PKTS]		=  "tx_pkts",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_BYTES]		=  "tx_bytes",
-	[BNXT_RE_RECOVERABLE_ERRORS]	=  "recoverable_errors",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_ERRORS]		=  "rx_roce_errors",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_DISCARDS]		=  "rx_roce_discards",
-	[BNXT_RE_TO_RETRANSMITS]        = "to_retransmits",
-	[BNXT_RE_SEQ_ERR_NAKS_RCVD]     = "seq_err_naks_rcvd",
-	[BNXT_RE_MAX_RETRY_EXCEEDED]    = "max_retry_exceeded",
-	[BNXT_RE_RNR_NAKS_RCVD]         = "rnr_naks_rcvd",
-	[BNXT_RE_MISSING_RESP]          = "missing_resp",
-	[BNXT_RE_UNRECOVERABLE_ERR]     = "unrecoverable_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_BAD_RESP_ERR]          = "bad_resp_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_LOCAL_QP_OP_ERR]       = "local_qp_op_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_LOCAL_PROTECTION_ERR]  = "local_protection_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_MEM_MGMT_OP_ERR]       = "mem_mgmt_op_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_INVALID_REQ_ERR] = "remote_invalid_req_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_ACCESS_ERR]     = "remote_access_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_OP_ERR]         = "remote_op_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_DUP_REQ]               = "dup_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_EXCEED_MAX]        = "res_exceed_max",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_LENGTH_MISMATCH]   = "res_length_mismatch",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_EXCEEDS_WQE]       = "res_exceeds_wqe",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_OPCODE_ERR]        = "res_opcode_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_INVALID_RKEY]   = "res_rx_invalid_rkey",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_DOMAIN_ERR]     = "res_rx_domain_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_NO_PERM]        = "res_rx_no_perm",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_RANGE_ERR]      = "res_rx_range_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_INVALID_RKEY]   = "res_tx_invalid_rkey",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_DOMAIN_ERR]     = "res_tx_domain_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_NO_PERM]        = "res_tx_no_perm",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_RANGE_ERR]      = "res_tx_range_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_IRRQ_OFLOW]        = "res_irrq_oflow",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_UNSUP_OPCODE]      = "res_unsup_opcode",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_UNALIGNED_ATOMIC]  = "res_unaligned_atomic",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_REM_INV_ERR]       = "res_rem_inv_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_MEM_ERROR]         = "res_mem_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_SRQ_ERR]           = "res_srq_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_CMP_ERR]           = "res_cmp_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_INVALID_DUP_RKEY]  = "res_invalid_dup_rkey",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_WQE_FORMAT_ERR]    = "res_wqe_format_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_CQ_LOAD_ERR]       = "res_cq_load_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_SRQ_LOAD_ERR]      = "res_srq_load_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_PCI_ERR]        = "res_tx_pci_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_PCI_ERR]        = "res_rx_pci_err",
-	[BNXT_RE_OUT_OF_SEQ_ERR]        = "oos_drop_count",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_ATOMIC_REQ]		= "tx_atomic_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_READ_REQ]		= "tx_read_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_READ_RES]		= "tx_read_resp",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_WRITE_REQ]		= "tx_write_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_TX_SEND_REQ]		= "tx_send_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_ATOMIC_REQ]		= "rx_atomic_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_READ_REQ]		= "rx_read_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_READ_RESP]		= "rx_read_resp",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_WRITE_REQ]		= "rx_write_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_SEND_REQ]		= "rx_send_req",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_ROCE_GOOD_PKTS]	= "rx_roce_good_pkts",
-	[BNXT_RE_RX_ROCE_GOOD_BYTES]	= "rx_roce_good_bytes",
-	[BNXT_RE_OOB]			= "rx_out_of_buffer"
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc bnxt_re_stat_descs[] = {
+	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_QP].name		=  "active_qps",
+	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_SRQ].name		=  "active_srqs",
+	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_CQ].name		=  "active_cqs",
+	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_MR].name		=  "active_mrs",
+	[BNXT_RE_ACTIVE_MW].name		=  "active_mws",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_PKTS].name		=  "rx_pkts",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_BYTES].name		=  "rx_bytes",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_PKTS].name		=  "tx_pkts",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_BYTES].name		=  "tx_bytes",
+	[BNXT_RE_RECOVERABLE_ERRORS].name	=  "recoverable_errors",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_ERRORS].name		=  "rx_roce_errors",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_DISCARDS].name		=  "rx_roce_discards",
+	[BNXT_RE_TO_RETRANSMITS].name        = "to_retransmits",
+	[BNXT_RE_SEQ_ERR_NAKS_RCVD].name     = "seq_err_naks_rcvd",
+	[BNXT_RE_MAX_RETRY_EXCEEDED].name    = "max_retry_exceeded",
+	[BNXT_RE_RNR_NAKS_RCVD].name         = "rnr_naks_rcvd",
+	[BNXT_RE_MISSING_RESP].name          = "missing_resp",
+	[BNXT_RE_UNRECOVERABLE_ERR].name     = "unrecoverable_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_BAD_RESP_ERR].name          = "bad_resp_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_LOCAL_QP_OP_ERR].name       = "local_qp_op_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_LOCAL_PROTECTION_ERR].name  = "local_protection_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_MEM_MGMT_OP_ERR].name       = "mem_mgmt_op_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_INVALID_REQ_ERR].name = "remote_invalid_req_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_ACCESS_ERR].name     = "remote_access_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_REMOTE_OP_ERR].name         = "remote_op_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_DUP_REQ].name               = "dup_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_EXCEED_MAX].name        = "res_exceed_max",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_LENGTH_MISMATCH].name   = "res_length_mismatch",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_EXCEEDS_WQE].name       = "res_exceeds_wqe",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_OPCODE_ERR].name        = "res_opcode_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_INVALID_RKEY].name   = "res_rx_invalid_rkey",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_DOMAIN_ERR].name     = "res_rx_domain_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_NO_PERM].name        = "res_rx_no_perm",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_RANGE_ERR].name      = "res_rx_range_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_INVALID_RKEY].name   = "res_tx_invalid_rkey",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_DOMAIN_ERR].name     = "res_tx_domain_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_NO_PERM].name        = "res_tx_no_perm",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_RANGE_ERR].name      = "res_tx_range_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_IRRQ_OFLOW].name        = "res_irrq_oflow",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_UNSUP_OPCODE].name      = "res_unsup_opcode",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_UNALIGNED_ATOMIC].name  = "res_unaligned_atomic",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_REM_INV_ERR].name       = "res_rem_inv_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_MEM_ERROR].name         = "res_mem_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_SRQ_ERR].name           = "res_srq_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_CMP_ERR].name           = "res_cmp_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_INVALID_DUP_RKEY].name  = "res_invalid_dup_rkey",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_WQE_FORMAT_ERR].name    = "res_wqe_format_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_CQ_LOAD_ERR].name       = "res_cq_load_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_SRQ_LOAD_ERR].name      = "res_srq_load_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_TX_PCI_ERR].name        = "res_tx_pci_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_RES_RX_PCI_ERR].name        = "res_rx_pci_err",
+	[BNXT_RE_OUT_OF_SEQ_ERR].name        = "oos_drop_count",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_ATOMIC_REQ].name	     = "tx_atomic_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_READ_REQ].name	     = "tx_read_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_READ_RES].name	     = "tx_read_resp",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_WRITE_REQ].name	     = "tx_write_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_TX_SEND_REQ].name	     = "tx_send_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_ATOMIC_REQ].name	     = "rx_atomic_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_READ_REQ].name	     = "rx_read_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_READ_RESP].name	     = "rx_read_resp",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_WRITE_REQ].name	     = "rx_write_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_SEND_REQ].name	     = "rx_send_req",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_ROCE_GOOD_PKTS].name     = "rx_roce_good_pkts",
+	[BNXT_RE_RX_ROCE_GOOD_BYTES].name    = "rx_roce_good_bytes",
+	[BNXT_RE_OOB].name		     = "rx_out_of_buffer"
 };
 
 static void bnxt_re_copy_ext_stats(struct bnxt_re_dev *rdev,
@@ -322,7 +320,6 @@ struct rdma_hw_stats *bnxt_re_ib_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 	else
 		num_counters = BNXT_RE_NUM_STD_COUNTERS;
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(bnxt_re_stat_name,
-					  num_counters,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(bnxt_re_stat_descs, num_counters,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/cxgb4/provider.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/cxgb4/provider.c
index e7337662aff8..0c8fd5a85fcb 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/cxgb4/provider.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/cxgb4/provider.c
@@ -366,23 +366,23 @@ enum counters {
 	NR_COUNTERS
 };
 
-static const char * const names[] = {
-	[IP4INSEGS] = "ip4InSegs",
-	[IP4OUTSEGS] = "ip4OutSegs",
-	[IP4RETRANSSEGS] = "ip4RetransSegs",
-	[IP4OUTRSTS] = "ip4OutRsts",
-	[IP6INSEGS] = "ip6InSegs",
-	[IP6OUTSEGS] = "ip6OutSegs",
-	[IP6RETRANSSEGS] = "ip6RetransSegs",
-	[IP6OUTRSTS] = "ip6OutRsts"
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc cxgb4_descs[] = {
+	[IP4INSEGS].name = "ip4InSegs",
+	[IP4OUTSEGS].name = "ip4OutSegs",
+	[IP4RETRANSSEGS].name = "ip4RetransSegs",
+	[IP4OUTRSTS].name = "ip4OutRsts",
+	[IP6INSEGS].name = "ip6InSegs",
+	[IP6OUTSEGS].name = "ip6OutSegs",
+	[IP6RETRANSSEGS].name = "ip6RetransSegs",
+	[IP6OUTRSTS].name = "ip6OutRsts"
 };
 
 static struct rdma_hw_stats *c4iw_alloc_device_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 {
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(names) != NR_COUNTERS);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(cxgb4_descs) != NR_COUNTERS);
 
 	/* FIXME: these look like port stats */
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(names, NR_COUNTERS,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cxgb4_descs, NR_COUNTERS,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/efa/efa_verbs.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/efa/efa_verbs.c
index e5f9d90aad5e..35d818b38e77 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/efa/efa_verbs.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/efa/efa_verbs.c
@@ -60,13 +60,14 @@ struct efa_user_mmap_entry {
 	op(EFA_RDMA_READ_RESP_BYTES, "rdma_read_resp_bytes") \
 
 #define EFA_STATS_ENUM(ename, name) ename,
-#define EFA_STATS_STR(ename, name) [ename] = name,
+#define EFA_STATS_STR(ename, nam) \
+	[ename].name = nam,
 
 enum efa_hw_device_stats {
 	EFA_DEFINE_DEVICE_STATS(EFA_STATS_ENUM)
 };
 
-static const char *const efa_device_stats_names[] = {
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc efa_device_stats_descs[] = {
 	EFA_DEFINE_DEVICE_STATS(EFA_STATS_STR)
 };
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ enum efa_hw_port_stats {
 	EFA_DEFINE_PORT_STATS(EFA_STATS_ENUM)
 };
 
-static const char *const efa_port_stats_names[] = {
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc efa_port_stats_descs[] = {
 	EFA_DEFINE_PORT_STATS(EFA_STATS_STR)
 };
 
@@ -1906,15 +1907,15 @@ int efa_destroy_ah(struct ib_ah *ibah, u32 flags)
 struct rdma_hw_stats *efa_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 					      u32 port_num)
 {
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(efa_port_stats_names,
-					  ARRAY_SIZE(efa_port_stats_names),
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(efa_port_stats_descs,
+					  ARRAY_SIZE(efa_port_stats_descs),
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
 struct rdma_hw_stats *efa_alloc_hw_device_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 {
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(efa_device_stats_names,
-					  ARRAY_SIZE(efa_device_stats_names),
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(efa_device_stats_descs,
+					  ARRAY_SIZE(efa_device_stats_descs),
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
@@ -1939,7 +1940,7 @@ static int efa_fill_device_stats(struct efa_dev *dev,
 	stats->value[EFA_CREATE_AH_ERR] = atomic64_read(&s->create_ah_err);
 	stats->value[EFA_MMAP_ERR] = atomic64_read(&s->mmap_err);
 
-	return ARRAY_SIZE(efa_device_stats_names);
+	return ARRAY_SIZE(efa_device_stats_descs);
 }
 
 static int efa_fill_port_stats(struct efa_dev *dev, struct rdma_hw_stats *stats,
@@ -1988,7 +1989,7 @@ static int efa_fill_port_stats(struct efa_dev *dev, struct rdma_hw_stats *stats,
 	stats->value[EFA_RDMA_READ_WR_ERR] = rrs->read_wr_err;
 	stats->value[EFA_RDMA_READ_RESP_BYTES] = rrs->read_resp_bytes;
 
-	return ARRAY_SIZE(efa_port_stats_names);
+	return ARRAY_SIZE(efa_port_stats_descs);
 }
 
 int efa_get_hw_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev, struct rdma_hw_stats *stats,
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/verbs.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/verbs.c
index 26bea51869bf..09354f1257a9 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/verbs.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/verbs.c
@@ -1602,8 +1602,8 @@ static const char * const driver_cntr_names[] = {
 };
 
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(cntr_names_lock); /* protects the *_cntr_names bufers */
-static const char **dev_cntr_names;
-static const char **port_cntr_names;
+static struct rdma_stat_desc *dev_cntr_descs;
+static struct rdma_stat_desc *port_cntr_descs;
 int num_driver_cntrs = ARRAY_SIZE(driver_cntr_names);
 static int num_dev_cntrs;
 static int num_port_cntrs;
@@ -1618,9 +1618,10 @@ static int init_cntr_names(const char *names_in,
 			   const size_t names_len,
 			   int num_extra_names,
 			   int *num_cntrs,
-			   const char ***cntr_names)
+			   struct rdma_stat_desc **cntr_descs)
 {
-	char *names_out, *p, **q;
+	struct rdma_stat_desc *q;
+	char *names_out, *p;
 	int i, n;
 
 	n = 0;
@@ -1628,26 +1629,28 @@ static int init_cntr_names(const char *names_in,
 		if (names_in[i] == '\n')
 			n++;
 
-	names_out = kmalloc((n + num_extra_names) * sizeof(char *) + names_len,
-			    GFP_KERNEL);
+	names_out =
+		kmalloc((n + num_extra_names) * sizeof(struct rdma_stat_desc) +
+				names_len,
+			GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!names_out) {
 		*num_cntrs = 0;
-		*cntr_names = NULL;
+		*cntr_descs = NULL;
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	p = names_out + (n + num_extra_names) * sizeof(char *);
+	p = names_out + (n + num_extra_names) * sizeof(struct rdma_stat_desc);
 	memcpy(p, names_in, names_len);
 
-	q = (char **)names_out;
+	q = (struct rdma_stat_desc *)names_out;
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		q[i] = p;
+		q[i].name = p;
 		p = strchr(p, '\n');
 		*p++ = '\0';
 	}
 
 	*num_cntrs = n;
-	*cntr_names = (const char **)names_out;
+	*cntr_descs = (struct rdma_stat_desc *)names_out;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1661,18 +1664,18 @@ static int init_counters(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 		goto out_unlock;
 
 	err = init_cntr_names(dd->cntrnames, dd->cntrnameslen, num_driver_cntrs,
-			      &num_dev_cntrs, &dev_cntr_names);
+			      &num_dev_cntrs, &dev_cntr_descs);
 	if (err)
 		goto out_unlock;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num_driver_cntrs; i++)
-		dev_cntr_names[num_dev_cntrs + i] = driver_cntr_names[i];
+		dev_cntr_descs[num_dev_cntrs + i].name = driver_cntr_names[i];
 
 	err = init_cntr_names(dd->portcntrnames, dd->portcntrnameslen, 0,
-			      &num_port_cntrs, &port_cntr_names);
+			      &num_port_cntrs, &port_cntr_descs);
 	if (err) {
-		kfree(dev_cntr_names);
-		dev_cntr_names = NULL;
+		kfree(dev_cntr_descs);
+		dev_cntr_descs = NULL;
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 	cntr_names_initialized = 1;
@@ -1686,7 +1689,7 @@ static struct rdma_hw_stats *hfi1_alloc_hw_device_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 {
 	if (init_counters(ibdev))
 		return NULL;
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(dev_cntr_names,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(dev_cntr_descs,
 					  num_dev_cntrs + num_driver_cntrs,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
@@ -1696,7 +1699,7 @@ static struct rdma_hw_stats *hfi_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 {
 	if (init_counters(ibdev))
 		return NULL;
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(port_cntr_names, num_port_cntrs,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(port_cntr_descs, num_port_cntrs,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
@@ -1921,10 +1924,10 @@ void hfi1_unregister_ib_device(struct hfi1_devdata *dd)
 	verbs_txreq_exit(dev);
 
 	mutex_lock(&cntr_names_lock);
-	kfree(dev_cntr_names);
-	kfree(port_cntr_names);
-	dev_cntr_names = NULL;
-	port_cntr_names = NULL;
+	kfree(dev_cntr_descs);
+	kfree(port_cntr_descs);
+	dev_cntr_descs = NULL;
+	port_cntr_descs = NULL;
 	cntr_names_initialized = 0;
 	mutex_unlock(&cntr_names_lock);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/irdma/verbs.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/irdma/verbs.c
index 4fc323402073..611197ade009 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/irdma/verbs.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/irdma/verbs.c
@@ -3644,88 +3644,88 @@ static int irdma_iw_port_immutable(struct ib_device *ibdev, u32 port_num,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static const char *const irdma_hw_stat_names[] = {
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc irdma_hw_stat_descs[] = {
 	/* 32bit names */
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXVLANERR] = "rxVlanErrors",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXDISCARD] = "ip4InDiscards",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXTRUNC] = "ip4InTruncatedPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXNOROUTE] = "ip4OutNoRoutes",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXDISCARD] = "ip6InDiscards",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXTRUNC] = "ip6InTruncatedPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXNOROUTE] = "ip6OutNoRoutes",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRTXSEG] = "tcpRetransSegs",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXOPTERR] = "tcpInOptErrors",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXPROTOERR] = "tcpInProtoErrors",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXRPCNPHANDLED] = "cnpHandled",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXRPCNPIGNORED] = "cnpIgnored",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TXNPCNPSENT] = "cnpSent",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXVLANERR].name = "rxVlanErrors",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXDISCARD].name = "ip4InDiscards",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXTRUNC].name = "ip4InTruncatedPkts",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXNOROUTE].name = "ip4OutNoRoutes",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXDISCARD].name = "ip6InDiscards",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXTRUNC].name = "ip6InTruncatedPkts",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXNOROUTE].name = "ip6OutNoRoutes",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRTXSEG].name = "tcpRetransSegs",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXOPTERR].name = "tcpInOptErrors",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXPROTOERR].name = "tcpInProtoErrors",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXRPCNPHANDLED].name = "cnpHandled",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXRPCNPIGNORED].name = "cnpIgnored",
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TXNPCNPSENT].name = "cnpSent",
 
 	/* 64bit names */
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4InOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4InPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4InReasmRqd",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4InMcastOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4RXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4InMcastPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4OutOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4OutPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4OutSegRqd",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4OutMcastOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP4TXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip4OutMcastPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6InOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6InPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6InReasmRqd",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6InMcastOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6RXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6InMcastPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6OutOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6OutPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXFRAGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6OutSegRqd",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXMCOCTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6OutMcastOctets",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_IP6TXMCPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"ip6OutMcastPkts",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXSEGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPRXSEGS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"tcpInSegs",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPTXSEG + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_TCPTXSEG + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"tcpOutSegs",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXRDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXRDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwInRdmaReads",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXSNDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXSNDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwInRdmaSends",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXWRS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMARXWRS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwInRdmaWrites",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXRDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXRDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwOutRdmaReads",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXSNDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXSNDS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwOutRdmaSends",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXWRS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMATXWRS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwOutRdmaWrites",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMAVBND + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMAVBND + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwRdmaBnd",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMAVINV + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RDMAVINV + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"iwRdmaInv",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_UDPRXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_UDPRXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"RxUDP",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_UDPTXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_UDPTXPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"TxUDP",
-	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXNPECNMARKEDPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32] =
+	[IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_RXNPECNMARKEDPKTS + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32].name =
 		"RxECNMrkd",
 };
 
@@ -3750,10 +3750,10 @@ static struct rdma_hw_stats *irdma_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 			   IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_64;
 	unsigned long lifespan = RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN;
 
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(irdma_hw_stat_names) !=
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(irdma_hw_stat_descs) !=
 		     (IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_32 + IRDMA_HW_STAT_INDEX_MAX_64));
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(irdma_hw_stat_names, num_counters,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(irdma_hw_stat_descs, num_counters,
 					  lifespan);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/main.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/main.c
index f367f4a4abff..fd4dfb43006b 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/main.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/main.c
@@ -2105,10 +2105,10 @@ mlx4_ib_alloc_hw_device_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 	struct mlx4_ib_dev *dev = to_mdev(ibdev);
 	struct mlx4_ib_diag_counters *diag = dev->diag_counters;
 
-	if (!diag[0].name)
+	if (!diag[0].descs)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(diag[0].name, diag[0].num_counters,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(diag[0].descs, diag[0].num_counters,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
@@ -2118,10 +2118,10 @@ mlx4_ib_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev, u32 port_num)
 	struct mlx4_ib_dev *dev = to_mdev(ibdev);
 	struct mlx4_ib_diag_counters *diag = dev->diag_counters;
 
-	if (!diag[1].name)
+	if (!diag[1].descs)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(diag[1].name, diag[1].num_counters,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(diag[1].descs, diag[1].num_counters,
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
 
@@ -2151,7 +2151,7 @@ static int mlx4_ib_get_hw_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 }
 
 static int __mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev,
-					 const char ***name,
+					 struct rdma_stat_desc **pdescs,
 					 u32 **offset,
 					 u32 *num,
 					 bool port)
@@ -2166,25 +2166,26 @@ static int __mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev,
 	if (!port)
 		num_counters += ARRAY_SIZE(diag_device_only);
 
-	*name = kcalloc(num_counters, sizeof(**name), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!*name)
+	*pdescs = kcalloc(num_counters, sizeof(struct rdma_stat_desc),
+			  GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!*pdescs)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	*offset = kcalloc(num_counters, sizeof(**offset), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!*offset)
-		goto err_name;
+		goto err;
 
 	*num = num_counters;
 
 	return 0;
 
-err_name:
-	kfree(*name);
+err:
+	kfree(*pdescs);
 	return -ENOMEM;
 }
 
 static void mlx4_ib_fill_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev,
-				       const char **name,
+				       struct rdma_stat_desc *descs,
 				       u32 *offset,
 				       bool port)
 {
@@ -2192,20 +2193,20 @@ static void mlx4_ib_fill_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev,
 	int j;
 
 	for (i = 0, j = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(diag_basic); i++, j++) {
-		name[i] = diag_basic[i].name;
+		descs[i].name = diag_basic[i].name;
 		offset[i] = diag_basic[i].offset;
 	}
 
 	if (ibdev->dev->caps.flags2 & MLX4_DEV_CAP_FLAG2_DIAG_PER_PORT) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(diag_ext); i++, j++) {
-			name[j] = diag_ext[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = diag_ext[i].name;
 			offset[j] = diag_ext[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (!port) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(diag_device_only); i++, j++) {
-			name[j] = diag_device_only[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = diag_device_only[i].name;
 			offset[j] = diag_device_only[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
@@ -2233,13 +2234,13 @@ static int mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev)
 		if (i && !per_port)
 			continue;
 
-		ret = __mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(ibdev, &diag[i].name,
+		ret = __mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(ibdev, &diag[i].descs,
 						    &diag[i].offset,
 						    &diag[i].num_counters, i);
 		if (ret)
 			goto err_alloc;
 
-		mlx4_ib_fill_diag_counters(ibdev, diag[i].name,
+		mlx4_ib_fill_diag_counters(ibdev, diag[i].descs,
 					   diag[i].offset, i);
 	}
 
@@ -2249,7 +2250,7 @@ static int mlx4_ib_alloc_diag_counters(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev)
 
 err_alloc:
 	if (i) {
-		kfree(diag[i - 1].name);
+		kfree(diag[i - 1].descs);
 		kfree(diag[i - 1].offset);
 	}
 
@@ -2262,7 +2263,7 @@ static void mlx4_ib_diag_cleanup(struct mlx4_ib_dev *ibdev)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < MLX4_DIAG_COUNTERS_TYPES; i++) {
 		kfree(ibdev->diag_counters[i].offset);
-		kfree(ibdev->diag_counters[i].name);
+		kfree(ibdev->diag_counters[i].descs);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/mlx4_ib.h b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/mlx4_ib.h
index c60f6e9ac640..d84023b4b1b8 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/mlx4_ib.h
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx4/mlx4_ib.h
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ struct mlx4_ib_counters {
 #define MLX4_DIAG_COUNTERS_TYPES 2
 
 struct mlx4_ib_diag_counters {
-	const char **name;
+	struct rdma_stat_desc *descs;
 	u32 *offset;
 	u32 num_counters;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/counters.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/counters.c
index 224ba36f2946..d2208b3c5925 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/counters.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/counters.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ mlx5_ib_alloc_hw_device_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev)
 	struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev = to_mdev(ibdev);
 	const struct mlx5_ib_counters *cnts = &dev->port[0].cnts;
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->names,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->descs,
 					  cnts->num_q_counters +
 						  cnts->num_cong_counters +
 						  cnts->num_ext_ppcnt_counters,
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ mlx5_ib_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev, u32 port_num)
 	struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev = to_mdev(ibdev);
 	const struct mlx5_ib_counters *cnts = &dev->port[port_num - 1].cnts;
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->names,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->descs,
 					  cnts->num_q_counters +
 						  cnts->num_cong_counters +
 						  cnts->num_ext_ppcnt_counters,
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ mlx5_ib_counter_alloc_stats(struct rdma_counter *counter)
 	const struct mlx5_ib_counters *cnts =
 		get_counters(dev, counter->port - 1);
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->names,
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(cnts->descs,
 					  cnts->num_q_counters +
 					  cnts->num_cong_counters +
 					  cnts->num_ext_ppcnt_counters,
@@ -373,55 +373,55 @@ static int mlx5_ib_counter_unbind_qp(struct ib_qp *qp)
 
 
 static void mlx5_ib_fill_counters(struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev,
-				  const char **names,
+				  struct rdma_stat_desc *descs,
 				  size_t *offsets)
 {
 	int i;
 	int j = 0;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(basic_q_cnts); i++, j++) {
-		names[j] = basic_q_cnts[i].name;
+		descs[j].name = basic_q_cnts[i].name;
 		offsets[j] = basic_q_cnts[i].offset;
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_GEN(dev->mdev, out_of_seq_cnt)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(out_of_seq_q_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = out_of_seq_q_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = out_of_seq_q_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = out_of_seq_q_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_GEN(dev->mdev, retransmission_q_counters)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(retrans_q_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = retrans_q_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = retrans_q_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = retrans_q_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_GEN(dev->mdev, enhanced_error_q_counters)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(extended_err_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = extended_err_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = extended_err_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = extended_err_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_GEN(dev->mdev, roce_accl)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(roce_accl_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = roce_accl_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = roce_accl_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = roce_accl_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_GEN(dev->mdev, cc_query_allowed)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(cong_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = cong_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = cong_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = cong_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (MLX5_CAP_PCAM_FEATURE(dev->mdev, rx_icrc_encapsulated_counter)) {
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(ext_ppcnt_cnts); i++, j++) {
-			names[j] = ext_ppcnt_cnts[i].name;
+			descs[j].name = ext_ppcnt_cnts[i].name;
 			offsets[j] = ext_ppcnt_cnts[i].offset;
 		}
 	}
@@ -457,20 +457,21 @@ static int __mlx5_ib_alloc_counters(struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev,
 		cnts->num_ext_ppcnt_counters = ARRAY_SIZE(ext_ppcnt_cnts);
 		num_counters += ARRAY_SIZE(ext_ppcnt_cnts);
 	}
-	cnts->names = kcalloc(num_counters, sizeof(*cnts->names), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!cnts->names)
+	cnts->descs = kcalloc(num_counters,
+			      sizeof(struct rdma_stat_desc), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!cnts->descs)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	cnts->offsets = kcalloc(num_counters,
 				sizeof(*cnts->offsets), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!cnts->offsets)
-		goto err_names;
+		goto err;
 
 	return 0;
 
-err_names:
-	kfree(cnts->names);
-	cnts->names = NULL;
+err:
+	kfree(cnts->descs);
+	cnts->descs = NULL;
 	return -ENOMEM;
 }
 
@@ -491,7 +492,7 @@ static void mlx5_ib_dealloc_counters(struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev)
 				 dev->port[i].cnts.set_id);
 			mlx5_cmd_exec_in(dev->mdev, dealloc_q_counter, in);
 		}
-		kfree(dev->port[i].cnts.names);
+		kfree(dev->port[i].cnts.descs);
 		kfree(dev->port[i].cnts.offsets);
 	}
 }
@@ -514,7 +515,7 @@ static int mlx5_ib_alloc_counters(struct mlx5_ib_dev *dev)
 		if (err)
 			goto err_alloc;
 
-		mlx5_ib_fill_counters(dev, dev->port[i].cnts.names,
+		mlx5_ib_fill_counters(dev, dev->port[i].cnts.descs,
 				      dev->port[i].cnts.offsets);
 
 		MLX5_SET(alloc_q_counter_in, in, uid,
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/mlx5_ib.h b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/mlx5_ib.h
index bf20a388eabe..6f5451d96dd7 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/mlx5_ib.h
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mlx5/mlx5_ib.h
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ struct mlx5_ib_resources {
 };
 
 struct mlx5_ib_counters {
-	const char **names;
+	struct rdma_stat_desc *descs;
 	size_t *offsets;
 	u32 num_q_counters;
 	u32 num_cong_counters;
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/sw/rxe/rxe_hw_counters.c b/drivers/infiniband/sw/rxe/rxe_hw_counters.c
index d5ceb706d964..83f464546d9a 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/sw/rxe/rxe_hw_counters.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/sw/rxe/rxe_hw_counters.c
@@ -6,22 +6,22 @@
 #include "rxe.h"
 #include "rxe_hw_counters.h"
 
-static const char * const rxe_counter_name[] = {
-	[RXE_CNT_SENT_PKTS]           =  "sent_pkts",
-	[RXE_CNT_RCVD_PKTS]           =  "rcvd_pkts",
-	[RXE_CNT_DUP_REQ]             =  "duplicate_request",
-	[RXE_CNT_OUT_OF_SEQ_REQ]      =  "out_of_seq_request",
-	[RXE_CNT_RCV_RNR]             =  "rcvd_rnr_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_SND_RNR]             =  "send_rnr_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_RCV_SEQ_ERR]         =  "rcvd_seq_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_COMPLETER_SCHED]     =  "ack_deferred",
-	[RXE_CNT_RETRY_EXCEEDED]      =  "retry_exceeded_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_RNR_RETRY_EXCEEDED]  =  "retry_rnr_exceeded_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_COMP_RETRY]          =  "completer_retry_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_SEND_ERR]            =  "send_err",
-	[RXE_CNT_LINK_DOWNED]         =  "link_downed",
-	[RXE_CNT_RDMA_SEND]           =  "rdma_sends",
-	[RXE_CNT_RDMA_RECV]           =  "rdma_recvs",
+static const struct rdma_stat_desc rxe_counter_descs[] = {
+	[RXE_CNT_SENT_PKTS].name           =  "sent_pkts",
+	[RXE_CNT_RCVD_PKTS].name           =  "rcvd_pkts",
+	[RXE_CNT_DUP_REQ].name             =  "duplicate_request",
+	[RXE_CNT_OUT_OF_SEQ_REQ].name      =  "out_of_seq_request",
+	[RXE_CNT_RCV_RNR].name             =  "rcvd_rnr_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_SND_RNR].name             =  "send_rnr_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_RCV_SEQ_ERR].name         =  "rcvd_seq_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_COMPLETER_SCHED].name     =  "ack_deferred",
+	[RXE_CNT_RETRY_EXCEEDED].name      =  "retry_exceeded_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_RNR_RETRY_EXCEEDED].name  =  "retry_rnr_exceeded_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_COMP_RETRY].name          =  "completer_retry_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_SEND_ERR].name            =  "send_err",
+	[RXE_CNT_LINK_DOWNED].name         =  "link_downed",
+	[RXE_CNT_RDMA_SEND].name           =  "rdma_sends",
+	[RXE_CNT_RDMA_RECV].name           =  "rdma_recvs",
 };
 
 int rxe_ib_get_hw_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
@@ -34,18 +34,18 @@ int rxe_ib_get_hw_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 	if (!port || !stats)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	for (cnt = 0; cnt  < ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_name); cnt++)
+	for (cnt = 0; cnt  < ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_descs); cnt++)
 		stats->value[cnt] = atomic64_read(&dev->stats_counters[cnt]);
 
-	return ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_name);
+	return ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_descs);
 }
 
 struct rdma_hw_stats *rxe_ib_alloc_hw_port_stats(struct ib_device *ibdev,
 						 u32 port_num)
 {
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_name) != RXE_NUM_OF_COUNTERS);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_descs) != RXE_NUM_OF_COUNTERS);
 
-	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(rxe_counter_name,
-					  ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_name),
+	return rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(rxe_counter_descs,
+					  ARRAY_SIZE(rxe_counter_descs),
 					  RDMA_HW_STATS_DEFAULT_LIFESPAN);
 }
diff --git a/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h b/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
index 4b50d9a3018a..aa1e1029b736 100644
--- a/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
+++ b/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
@@ -545,6 +545,14 @@ enum ib_port_speed {
 	IB_SPEED_NDR	= 128,
 };
 
+/**
+ * struct rdma_stat_desc
+ * @name - The name of the counter
+ */
+struct rdma_stat_desc {
+	const char *name;
+};
+
 /**
  * struct rdma_hw_stats
  * @lock - Mutex to protect parallel write access to lifespan and values
@@ -555,8 +563,8 @@ enum ib_port_speed {
  *   should be before being updated again.  Stored in jiffies, defaults
  *   to 10 milliseconds, drivers can override the default be specifying
  *   their own value during their allocation routine.
- * @name - Array of pointers to static names used for the counters in
- *   directory.
+ * @descs - Array of pointers to static descriptors used for the counters
+ *   in directory.
  * @num_counters - How many hardware counters there are.  If name is
  *   shorter than this number, a kernel oops will result.  Driver authors
  *   are encouraged to leave BUILD_BUG_ON(ARRAY_SIZE(@name) < num_counters)
@@ -568,7 +576,7 @@ struct rdma_hw_stats {
 	struct mutex	lock; /* Protect lifespan and values[] */
 	unsigned long	timestamp;
 	unsigned long	lifespan;
-	const char * const *names;
+	const struct rdma_stat_desc *descs;
 	int		num_counters;
 	u64		value[];
 };
@@ -577,12 +585,12 @@ struct rdma_hw_stats {
 /**
  * rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct - Helper function to allocate dynamic struct
  *   for drivers.
- * @names - Array of static const char *
+ * @descs - Array of static descriptors
  * @num_counters - How many elements in array
  * @lifespan - How many milliseconds between updates
  */
 static inline struct rdma_hw_stats *rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(
-		const char * const *names, int num_counters,
+		const struct rdma_stat_desc *descs, int num_counters,
 		unsigned long lifespan)
 {
 	struct rdma_hw_stats *stats;
@@ -591,7 +599,8 @@ static inline struct rdma_hw_stats *rdma_alloc_hw_stats_struct(
 			GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!stats)
 		return NULL;
-	stats->names = names;
+
+	stats->descs = descs;
 	stats->num_counters = num_counters;
 	stats->lifespan = msecs_to_jiffies(lifespan);
 
