diff --git a/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py b/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
index 1fb43fc02a4..51b572d183b 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
     nrows=2,
     ncols=2,
     figsize=("15c", "6c"),
-    autolabel=True,
+    auto_label=True,
     frame=["af", "WSne"],
     margins=["0.1c", "0.2c"],
     title="My Subplot Heading",
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
 # 15 cm wide and 6 cm high (``figsize=["15c", "6c"]``). In addition, we use
 # some optional parameters to fine-tune some details of the figure creation:
 #
-# - ``autolabel=True``: Each subplot is automatically labelled 'abcd'.
+# - ``auto_label=True``: Each subplot is automatically labeled 'abcd'.
 # - ``margins=["0.1c", "0.2c"]``: Adjusts the space between adjacent subplots.
 #   In this case, it is set as 0.1 cm in the x-direction and 0.2 cm in the
 #   y-direction.
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
     nrows=2,
     ncols=2,
     figsize=("15c", "6c"),  # width of 15 cm, height of 6 cm
-    autolabel=True,
+    auto_label=True,
     margins=["0.3c", "0.2c"],  # horizontal 0.3 cm and vertical 0.2 cm margins
     title="My Subplot Heading",
     sharex="b",  # shared x-axis on the bottom side
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
 
 fig = pygmt.Figure()
 # Bottom row, two subplots
-with fig.subplot(nrows=1, ncols=2, figsize=("15c", "3c"), autolabel="b)"):
+with fig.subplot(nrows=1, ncols=2, figsize=("15c", "3c"), auto_label="b)"):
     fig.basemap(
         region=[0, 5, 0, 5], projection="X?", frame=["af", "WSne"], panel=[0, 0]
     )
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
 # Move plot origin by 1 cm above the height of the entire figure
 fig.shift_origin(yshift="h+1c")
 # Top row, one subplot
-with fig.subplot(nrows=1, ncols=1, figsize=("15c", "3c"), autolabel="a)"):
+with fig.subplot(nrows=1, ncols=1, figsize=("15c", "3c"), auto_label="a)"):
     fig.basemap(
         region=[0, 10, 0, 10], projection="X?", frame=["af", "WSne"], panel=[0, 0]
     )
@@ -223,19 +223,19 @@
 fig.show()
 
 # %%
-# We start by drawing the bottom two subplots, setting ``autolabel="b)"`` so
-# that the subplots are labelled 'b)' and 'c)'. Next, we use
+# We start by drawing the bottom two subplots, setting ``auto_label="b)"`` so
+# that the subplots are labeled 'b)' and 'c)'. Next, we use
 # :meth:`pygmt.Figure.shift_origin` to move the plot origin 1 cm above the
 # **h**\ eight of the entire figure that is currently plotted (i.e. the bottom
 # row subplots). A single subplot is then plotted on the top row. You may need
 # to adjust the ``yshift`` parameter to make your plot look nice. This top row
-# uses ``autolabel="a)"``, and we also plotted some text inside. Note that
+# uses ``auto_label="a)"``, and we also plotted some text inside. Note that
 # ``projection="X?"`` was used to let GMT automatically determine the size of
 # the subplot according to the size of the subplot area.
 
 # %%
-# You can also manually override the ``autolabel`` for each subplot using for
-# example, ``fig.set_panel(..., fixedlabel="b) Panel 2")`` which would allow
+# You can also manually override the ``auto_label`` for each subplot using for
+# example, ``fig.set_panel(..., fixed_label="b) Panel 2")`` which would allow
 # you to manually label a single subplot as you wish. This can be useful for
 # adding a more descriptive subtitle to individual subplots.
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/subplot.py b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
index 4df32ed38fb..5444aca02f4 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/subplot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput, GMTValueError
 from pygmt.helpers import (
     build_arg_list,
+    deprecate_parameter,
     fmt_docstring,
     kwargs_to_strings,
     use_alias,
@@ -18,11 +19,12 @@
 
 
 @fmt_docstring
+@deprecate_parameter("autolabel", "auto_label", "v0.18.0", remove_version="v0.20.0")
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 @use_alias(
     Ff="figsize",
     Fs="subsize",
-    A="autolabel",
+    A="auto_label",
     C="clearance",
     SC="sharex",
     SR="sharey",
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ def subplot(
         Note that only one of ``figsize`` or ``subsize`` can be provided at
         once.
 
-    autolabel : bool or str
+    auto_label : bool or str
         [*autolabel*][**+c**\ *dx*\ [/*dy*]][**+g**\ *fill*][**+j**\|\ **J**\
         *refpoint*][**+o**\ *dx*\ [/*dy*]][**+p**\ *pen*][**+r**\|\ **R**]\ [**+v**].
         Specify automatic tagging of each subplot. Append either a number or letter
@@ -203,8 +205,9 @@ def subplot(
 
 
 @fmt_docstring
+@deprecate_parameter("fixedlabel", "fixed_label", "v0.18.0", remove_version="v0.20.0")
 @contextlib.contextmanager
-@use_alias(A="fixedlabel", C="clearance")
+@use_alias(A="fixed_label", C="clearance")
 def set_panel(
     self,
     panel: int | Sequence[int] | None = None,
@@ -232,17 +235,17 @@ def set_panel(
         *index* or (*row*, *col*).
         Sets the current subplot until further notice. **Note**: First *row* or *col* is
         0, not 1. If not given we go to the next subplot by order specified via
-        ``autolabel`` in :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`. As an alternative, you may bypass
-        using :meth:`pygmt.Figure.set_panel` and instead supply the common option
+        ``auto_label`` in :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`. As an alternative, you may
+        bypass using :meth:`pygmt.Figure.set_panel` and instead supply the common option
         **panel**=(*row*, *col*) to the first plot command you issue in that subplot.
         GMT maintains information about the current figure and subplot. Also, you may
         give the one-dimensional *index* instead which starts at 0 and follows the row
-        or column order set via ``autolabel`` in :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`.
+        or column order set via ``auto_label`` in :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`.
 
-    fixedlabel : str
+    fixed_label : str
         Overrides the automatic labeling with the given string. No modifiers
         are allowed. Placement, justification, etc. are all inherited from how
-        ``autolabel`` was specified by the initial :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`
+        ``auto_label`` was specified by the initial :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot`
         command.
 
     clearance : str or list
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_subplot.py b/pygmt/tests/test_subplot.py
index 62b015f188e..897a3385ffa 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_subplot.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_subplot.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_subplot_direct():
 @pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
 def test_subplot_autolabel_margins_title():
     """
-    Make subplot figure with autolabels, setting some margins and a title.
+    Make subplot figure with automatic labels, setting some margins and a title.
     """
     fig = Figure()
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def test_subplot_autolabel_margins_title():
         nrows=2,
         ncols=1,
         figsize=("15c", "6c"),
-        autolabel=True,
+        auto_label=True,
         margins=["0.3c", "0.1c"],
         title="Subplot Title",
     ):