diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/non_expressive_names.rs b/clippy_lints/src/non_expressive_names.rs
index 66b0a53fdd7..b8c3c7fa65a 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/non_expressive_names.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/non_expressive_names.rs
@@ -131,6 +131,14 @@ fn check_single_char_names(&self) {
     &["iter", "item"],
 ];
 
+/// Characters that look visually similar
+const SIMILAR_CHARS: &[(char, char)] = &[('l', 'i'), ('l', '1'), ('i', '1'), ('u', 'v')];
+
+/// Return true if two characters are visually similar
+fn chars_are_similar(a: char, b: char) -> bool {
+    a == b || SIMILAR_CHARS.contains(&(a, b)) || SIMILAR_CHARS.contains(&(b, a))
+}
+
 struct SimilarNamesNameVisitor<'a, 'tcx, 'b>(&'b mut SimilarNamesLocalVisitor<'a, 'tcx>);
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx, 'b> Visitor<'tcx> for SimilarNamesNameVisitor<'a, 'tcx, 'b> {
@@ -219,6 +227,16 @@ fn check_ident(&mut self, ident: Ident) {
             }
 
             let existing_str = existing_name.interned.as_str();
+
+            // The first char being different is usually enough to set identifiers apart, as long
+            // as the characters aren't too similar.
+            if !chars_are_similar(
+                interned_name.chars().next().expect("len >= 1"),
+                existing_str.chars().next().expect("len >= 1"),
+            ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             let dissimilar = match existing_name.len.cmp(&count) {
                 Ordering::Greater => existing_name.len - count != 1 || levenstein_not_1(interned_name, existing_str),
                 Ordering::Less => count - existing_name.len != 1 || levenstein_not_1(existing_str, interned_name),
diff --git a/tests/ui/similar_names.rs b/tests/ui/similar_names.rs
index f46af56c6e2..f0969334491 100644
--- a/tests/ui/similar_names.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/similar_names.rs
@@ -17,13 +17,10 @@ fn main() {
     let specter: i32;
     let spectre: i32;
 
+    // ok; first letter is different enough
     let apple: i32;
-
     let bpple: i32;
-    //~^ ERROR: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-
     let cpple: i32;
-    //~^ ERROR: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
 
     let a_bar: i32;
     let b_bar: i32;
diff --git a/tests/ui/similar_names.stderr b/tests/ui/similar_names.stderr
index 44ae3532a48..0cadb44ecf1 100644
--- a/tests/ui/similar_names.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/similar_names.stderr
@@ -1,88 +1,64 @@
 error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:22:9
-   |
-LL |     let bpple: i32;
-   |         ^^^^^
-   |
-note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:20:9
-   |
-LL |     let apple: i32;
-   |         ^^^^^
-   = note: `-D clippy::similar-names` implied by `-D warnings`
-   = help: to override `-D warnings` add `#[allow(clippy::similar_names)]`
-
-error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:25:9
-   |
-LL |     let cpple: i32;
-   |         ^^^^^
-   |
-note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:20:9
-   |
-LL |     let apple: i32;
-   |         ^^^^^
-
-error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:50:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:47:9
    |
 LL |     let bluby: i32;
    |         ^^^^^
    |
 note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:49:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:46:9
    |
 LL |     let blubx: i32;
    |         ^^^^^
+   = note: `-D clippy::similar-names` implied by `-D warnings`
+   = help: to override `-D warnings` add `#[allow(clippy::similar_names)]`
 
 error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:55:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:52:9
    |
 LL |     let coke: i32;
    |         ^^^^
    |
 note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:53:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:50:9
    |
 LL |     let cake: i32;
    |         ^^^^
 
 error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:74:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:71:9
    |
 LL |     let xyzeabc: i32;
    |         ^^^^^^^
    |
 note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:72:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:69:9
    |
 LL |     let xyz1abc: i32;
    |         ^^^^^^^
 
 error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:79:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:76:9
    |
 LL |     let parsee: i32;
    |         ^^^^^^
    |
 note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:77:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:74:9
    |
 LL |     let parser: i32;
    |         ^^^^^^
 
 error: binding's name is too similar to existing binding
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:101:16
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:98:16
    |
 LL |         bpple: sprang,
    |                ^^^^^^
    |
 note: existing binding defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:100:16
+  --> $DIR/similar_names.rs:97:16
    |
 LL |         apple: spring,
    |                ^^^^^^
 
-error: aborting due to 7 previous errors
+error: aborting due to 5 previous errors