diff --git a/docs/rules/camelcase.md b/docs/rules/camelcase.md
index cce3fd92470f..838cde911e06 100644
--- a/docs/rules/camelcase.md
+++ b/docs/rules/camelcase.md
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ This rule has an object option:
 * `"properties": "never"` does not check property names
 * `"ignoreDestructuring": false` (default) enforces camelcase style for destructured identifiers
 * `"ignoreDestructuring": true` does not check destructured identifiers
+* `"allowLeadingUnderscores": true` (default) allow leading underscores, which is commonly used to flag private/protected identifiers
+* `"allowLeadingUnderscores": false` does not allow leading underscores
+* `"allowTrailingUnderscores": true` (default) allow trailing underscores, which is commonly used to flag private/protected identifiers
+* `"allowTrailingUnderscores": false` does not allow trailing underscores
 
 ### properties: "always"
 
@@ -151,6 +155,42 @@ var { category_id = 1 } = query;
 var { category_id: category_id } = query;
 ```
 
+### allowLeadingUnderscores: false
+
+Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule with the `{ "allowLeadingUnderscores": false }` option:
+
+```js
+/*eslint camelcase: ["error", {allowLeadingUnderscores: false}]*/
+
+var __leadingUnderscore = query;
+```
+
+Examples of **correct** code for this rule with the `{ "allowDestructuring": false }` option:
+
+```js
+/*eslint camelcase: ["error", {allowDestructuring: false}]*/
+
+var noLeadingUnderscore = query;
+```
+
+### allowTrailingUnderscores: false
+
+Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule with the `{ "allowTrailingUnderscores": false }` option:
+
+```js
+/*eslint camelcase: ["error", {allowTrailingUnderscores: false}]*/
+
+var trailingUnderscore__ = query;
+```
+
+Examples of **correct** code for this rule with the `{ "allowDestructuring": false }` option:
+
+```js
+/*eslint camelcase: ["error", {allowDestructuring: false}]*/
+
+var noTrailingUnderscore = query;
+```
+
 ## When Not To Use It
 
 If you have established coding standards using a different naming convention (separating words with underscores), turn this rule off.
diff --git a/lib/rules/camelcase.js b/lib/rules/camelcase.js
index ec611662135c..13a14215570b 100644
--- a/lib/rules/camelcase.js
+++ b/lib/rules/camelcase.js
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ module.exports = {
                     ignoreDestructuring: {
                         type: "boolean"
                     },
+                    allowLeadingUnderscores: {
+                        type: "boolean"
+                    },
+                    allowTrailingUnderscores: {
+                        type: "boolean"
+                    },
                     properties: {
                         enum: ["always", "never"]
                     }
@@ -96,6 +102,8 @@ module.exports = {
         const options = context.options[0] || {};
         let properties = options.properties || "";
         const ignoreDestructuring = options.ignoreDestructuring || false;
+        const allowLeadingUnderscores = options.allowLeadingUnderscores !== false;
+        const allowTrailingUnderscores = options.allowTrailingUnderscores !== false;
 
         if (properties !== "always" && properties !== "never") {
             properties = "always";
@@ -105,12 +113,16 @@ module.exports = {
 
             Identifier(node) {
 
-                /*
-                 * Leading and trailing underscores are commonly used to flag
-                 * private/protected identifiers, strip them
-                 */
-                const name = node.name.replace(/^_+|_+$/g, ""),
-                    effectiveParent = (node.parent.type === "MemberExpression") ? node.parent.parent : node.parent;
+                let name = node.name;
+                const effectiveParent = (node.parent.type === "MemberExpression") ? node.parent.parent : node.parent;
+
+                // Strip leading and trailing underscores
+                if (allowLeadingUnderscores) {
+                    name = name.replace(/^_+/g, "");
+                }
+                if (allowTrailingUnderscores) {
+                    name = name.replace(/_+$/g, "");
+                }
 
                 // MemberExpressions get special rules
                 if (node.parent.type === "MemberExpression") {
diff --git a/tests/lib/rules/camelcase.js b/tests/lib/rules/camelcase.js
index f21459085060..28ff637d7a5e 100644
--- a/tests/lib/rules/camelcase.js
+++ b/tests/lib/rules/camelcase.js
@@ -184,6 +184,28 @@ ruleTester.run("camelcase", rule, {
         }
     ],
     invalid: [
+        {
+            code: "__leadingUnderscores = null",
+            options: [{ allowLeadingUnderscores: false }],
+            errors: [
+                {
+                    messageId: "notCamelCase",
+                    data: { name: "__leadingUnderscores" },
+                    type: "Identifier"
+                }
+            ]
+        },
+        {
+            code: "trailingUnderscores__ = null",
+            options: [{ allowTrailingUnderscores: false }],
+            errors: [
+                {
+                    messageId: "notCamelCase",
+                    data: { name: "trailingUnderscores__" },
+                    type: "Identifier"
+                }
+            ]
+        },
         {
             code: "first_name = \"Nicholas\"",
             errors: [