diff --git a/src/go/types/named.go b/src/go/types/named.go
index 4a263410fca..302e43174e6 100644
--- a/src/go/types/named.go
+++ b/src/go/types/named.go
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ func (t *Named) Obj() *TypeName {
 	return t.orig.obj // for non-instances this is the same as t.obj
 }
 
-// _Orig returns the original generic type an instantiated type is derived from.
-// If t is not an instantiated type, the result is t.
-func (t *Named) _Orig() *Named { return t.orig }
+// Origin returns the parameterized type from which the named type t is
+// instantiated. If t is not an instantiated type, the result is t.
+func (t *Named) Origin() *Named { return t.orig }
 
 // TODO(gri) Come up with a better representation and API to distinguish
 //           between parameterized instantiated and non-instantiated types.