diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/2019-03-29-rcparam-axes-titlelocation.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/2019-03-29-rcparam-axes-titlelocation.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..be99106c0d37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/users/next_whats_new/2019-03-29-rcparam-axes-titlelocation.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+rcParam for default axes title location
+---------------------------------------
+
+A new rcParam value ``axes.titlelocation`` denotes the default axes title alignment.
+
+Valid values are: left, center, and right.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 4630a7568818..25e2badb9c04 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def get_title(self, loc="center"):
             raise ValueError("'%s' is not a valid location" % loc)
         return title.get_text()
 
-    def set_title(self, label, fontdict=None, loc="center", pad=None,
+    def set_title(self, label, fontdict=None, loc=None, pad=None,
                     **kwargs):
         """
         Set a title for the axes.
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def set_title(self, label, fontdict=None, loc="center", pad=None,
                 'horizontalalignment': loc}
 
         loc : {'center', 'left', 'right'}, str, optional
-            Which title to set, defaults to 'center'
+            Which title to set, defaults to rcParams['axes.titlelocation']
 
         pad : float
             The offset of the title from the top of the axes, in points.
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@ def set_title(self, label, fontdict=None, loc="center", pad=None,
             properties.
         """
         try:
+            if loc is None:
+                loc = rcParams['axes.titlelocation']
+
             title = {'left': self._left_title,
                      'center': self.title,
                      'right': self._right_title}[loc.lower()]
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index 84cf4fc723cd..b7fbe01ea2a8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -3019,7 +3019,7 @@ def sci(im):
 
 # Autogenerated by boilerplate.py.  Do not edit as changes will be lost.
 @docstring.copy(Axes.set_title)
-def title(label, fontdict=None, loc='center', pad=None, **kwargs):
+def title(label, fontdict=None, loc=None, pad=None, **kwargs):
     return gca().set_title(
         label, fontdict=fontdict, loc=loc, pad=pad, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index 1ecf4443ab1b..2e43dd627a96 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -998,6 +998,8 @@ def _validate_linestyle(ls):
                          "sequence.".format(ls))
 
 
+validate_axes_titlelocation = ValidateInStrings('axes.titlelocation', ['left', 'center', 'right'])
+
 # a map from key -> value, converter
 defaultParams = {
     'backend':           [_auto_backend_sentinel, validate_backend],
@@ -1180,6 +1182,7 @@ def _validate_linestyle(ls):
 
     'axes.titlesize':        ['large', validate_fontsize],  # fontsize of the
                                                             # axes title
+    'axes.titlelocation':    ['center', validate_axes_titlelocation],  # alignment of axes title
     'axes.titleweight':      ['normal', validate_string],  # font weight of axes title
     'axes.titlepad':         [6.0, validate_float],  # pad from axes top to title in points
     'axes.grid':             [False, validate_bool],   # display grid or not
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 741a9c2b574a..b2471075dcf9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -5301,13 +5301,16 @@ def test_title_pad():
 
 def test_title_location_roundtrip():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    # set default title location
+    plt.rcParams['axes.titlelocation'] = 'center'
+
     ax.set_title('aardvark')
     ax.set_title('left', loc='left')
     ax.set_title('right', loc='right')
 
     assert 'left' == ax.get_title(loc='left')
     assert 'right' == ax.get_title(loc='right')
-    assert 'aardvark' == ax.get_title()
+    assert 'aardvark' == ax.get_title(loc='center')
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         ax.get_title(loc='foo')
diff --git a/matplotlibrc.template b/matplotlibrc.template
index c06ec1f8f9c3..d8351405327c 100644
--- a/matplotlibrc.template
+++ b/matplotlibrc.template
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@
 #axes.grid           : False   ## display grid or not
 #axes.grid.axis      : both    ## which axis the grid should apply to
 #axes.grid.which     : major   ## gridlines at major, minor or both ticks
+#axes.titlelocation  : center  ## alignment of the title,
+                               ## possible values are left, right and center
 #axes.titlesize      : large   ## fontsize of the axes title
 #axes.titleweight    : normal  ## font weight of title
 #axes.titlepad       : 6.0     ## pad between axes and title in points