diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/OtherBranchScenarios.cs b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/OtherBranchScenarios.cs
index 0efcc15121..a5c7177fce 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/OtherBranchScenarios.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/OtherBranchScenarios.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using GitTools.Testing;
+using GitTools.Testing;
 using GitVersionCore.Tests;
 using LibGit2Sharp;
 using NUnit.Framework;
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ public void CanTakeVersionFromReleaseBranch()
             const string TaggedVersion = "1.0.3";
             fixture.Repository.MakeATaggedCommit(TaggedVersion);
             fixture.Repository.MakeCommits(5);
-            fixture.Repository.CreateBranch("alpha-2.0.0");
-            Commands.Checkout(fixture.Repository, "alpha-2.0.0");
+            fixture.Repository.CreateBranch("release/beta-2.0.0");
+            Commands.Checkout(fixture.Repository, "release/beta-2.0.0");
 
-            fixture.AssertFullSemver("2.0.0-alpha.1+0");
+            fixture.AssertFullSemver("2.0.0-beta.1+0");
         }
     }
 
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ public void ShouldNotGetVersionFromFeatureBranchIfNotMerged()
             version.SemVer.ShouldBe("1.0.0-alpha.1");
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInCurrentBranchNameScenarios.cs b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInCurrentBranchNameScenarios.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a879436ef4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInCurrentBranchNameScenarios.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.IntegrationTests
+{
+    using System.Collections.Generic;
+    using System.Linq;
+
+    using GitTools.Testing;
+
+    using GitVersion;
+
+    using GitVersionCore.Tests;
+
+    using LibGit2Sharp;
+
+    using NUnit.Framework;
+
+    [TestFixture]
+    public class VersionInCurrentBranchNameScenarios : TestBase
+    {
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfReleaseBranch()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.BranchTo("release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver("2.0.0-beta.1+0");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DoesNotTakeVersionFromNameOfNonReleaseBranch()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.BranchTo("feature/upgrade-power-level-to-9000.0.1");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver("1.1.0-upgrade-power-level-to-9000-0-1.1+1");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfBranchThatIsReleaseByConfig()
+        {
+            var config = new Config
+            {
+                Branches = new Dictionary<string, BranchConfig> { { "support", new BranchConfig { IsReleaseBranch = true } } }
+            };
+
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.BranchTo("support/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver(config, "2.0.0+1");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfRemoteReleaseBranchInOrigin()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new RemoteRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.BranchTo("release/2.0.0");
+                fixture.MakeACommit();
+                Commands.Fetch((Repository)fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository, fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.First().Name, new string[0], new FetchOptions(), null);
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Checkout("origin/release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.AssertFullSemver("2.0.0-beta.1+1");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DoesNotTakeVersionFromNameOfRemoteReleaseBranchInCustomRemote()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new RemoteRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.Rename("origin", "upstream");
+                fixture.BranchTo("release/2.0.0");
+                fixture.MakeACommit();
+                Commands.Fetch((Repository)fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository, fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.First().Name, new string[0], new FetchOptions(), null);
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Checkout("upstream/release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.AssertFullSemver("0.1.0-beta.1+5");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInMergedBranchNameScenarios.cs b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInMergedBranchNameScenarios.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0dad729d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/IntegrationTests/VersionInMergedBranchNameScenarios.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.IntegrationTests
+{
+    using System.Collections.Generic;
+    using System.Linq;
+
+    using GitTools.Testing;
+
+    using GitVersion;
+
+    using GitVersionCore.Tests;
+
+    using LibGit2Sharp;
+
+    using NUnit.Framework;
+
+    [TestFixture]
+    public class VersionInMergedBranchNameScenarios : TestBase
+    {
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfReleaseBranch()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.CreateAndMergeBranchIntoDevelop("release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver("2.1.0-alpha.2");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DoesNotTakeVersionFromNameOfNonReleaseBranch()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.CreateAndMergeBranchIntoDevelop("pull-request/improved-by-upgrading-some-lib-to-4.5.6");
+                fixture.CreateAndMergeBranchIntoDevelop("hotfix/downgrade-some-lib-to-3.2.1-to-avoid-breaking-changes");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver("1.1.0-alpha.5");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfBranchThatIsReleaseByConfig()
+        {
+            var config = new Config
+            {
+                Branches = new Dictionary<string, BranchConfig> { { "support", new BranchConfig { IsReleaseBranch = true } } }
+            };
+
+            using (var fixture = new BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture("1.0.0"))
+            {
+                fixture.CreateAndMergeBranchIntoDevelop("support/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.AssertFullSemver(config, "2.1.0-alpha.2");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TakesVersionFromNameOfRemoteReleaseBranchInOrigin()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new RemoteRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.BranchTo("release/2.0.0");
+                fixture.MakeACommit();
+                Commands.Fetch((Repository)fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository, fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.First().Name, new string[0], new FetchOptions(), null);
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.MergeNoFF("origin/release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.AssertFullSemver("2.0.0+0");
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DoesNotTakeVersionFromNameOfRemoteReleaseBranchInCustomRemote()
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new RemoteRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.Rename("origin", "upstream");
+                fixture.BranchTo("release/2.0.0");
+                fixture.MakeACommit();
+                Commands.Fetch((Repository)fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository, fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.First().Name, new string[0], new FetchOptions(), null);
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.MergeNoFF("upstream/release/2.0.0");
+
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.AssertFullSemver("0.1.0+6");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    internal static class BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixtureExtensions
+    {
+        public static void CreateAndMergeBranchIntoDevelop(this BaseGitFlowRepositoryFixture fixture, string branchName)
+        {
+            fixture.BranchTo(branchName);
+            fixture.MakeACommit();
+            fixture.Checkout("develop");
+            fixture.MergeNoFF(branchName);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
index 407940265a..b5fe2e3e43 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.VersionCalculation.Strategies
+namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.VersionCalculation.Strategies
 {
     using System.Collections.Generic;
     using System.Linq;
+
+    using GitVersion;
     using GitVersion.VersionCalculation.BaseVersionCalculators;
     using LibGit2Sharp;
     using NUnit.Framework;
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ public void ShouldNotAllowIncrementOfVersion()
             {
                 Head = new MockBranch("master") { new MockCommit
                 {
-                    MessageEx = "Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'",
+                    MessageEx = "Merge branch 'release-0.1.5'",
                     ParentsEx = GetParents(true)
                 } }
             }).Build();
@@ -30,38 +32,22 @@ public void ShouldNotAllowIncrementOfVersion()
             baseVersion.ShouldIncrement.ShouldBe(false);
         }
 
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'", false, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'develop' of github.com:Particular/NServiceBus into develop", true, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch '4.0.3'", true, "4.0.3")] //TODO: possible make it a config option to support this
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'release-10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 's'", true, null)] // Must start with a number
-        [TestCase("Merge tag '10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'release-0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'Release-0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'Release/0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-4.6.6' into support-4.6", true, "4.6.6")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Hotfix-10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Hotfix/10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'", true, "0.1.5")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-4.2.2' into support-4.2", true, "4.2.2")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'somebranch' into release-3.0.0", true, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'\n\nRelates to: TicketId", true, "0.1.5")]
-        [TestCase("Merge branch 'alpha-0.1.5'", true, "0.1.5")]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #165 from Particular/release-1.0.0", true, "1.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 from Particular/issue-94", false, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #165 in Particular/release-1.0.0", true, "1.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 in Particular/issue-94", true, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 in Particular/issue-94", false, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #64 from arledesma/feature-VS2013_3rd_party_test_framework_support", true, null)]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #500 in FOO/bar from Particular/release-1.0.0 to develop)", true, "1.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("Merge pull request #500 in FOO/bar from feature/new-service to develop)", true, null)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'releases-0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Releases-0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Releases/0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'release-4.6.6' into support-4.6", true, "4.6.6")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'release-10.10.50'", true, "10.10.50")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'release-0.1.5'\n\nRelates to: TicketId", true, "0.1.5")]
         [TestCase("Finish Release-0.12.0", true, "0.12.0")] //Support Syntevo SmartGit/Hg's Gitflow merge commit messages for finishing a 'Release' branch
-        [TestCase("Finish 0.14.1", true, "0.14.1")] //Support Syntevo SmartGit/Hg's Gitflow merge commit messages for finishing a 'Hotfix' branch
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'Release-v0.2.0'", true, "0.2.0")]
         [TestCase("Merge branch 'Release-v2.2'", true, "2.2.0")]
         [TestCase("Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/release/0.8.0' into develop/master", true, "0.8.0")]
-        public void AssertMergeMessage(string message, bool isMergeCommit, string expectedVersion)
+        [TestCase("Merge remote-tracking branch 'refs/remotes/origin/release/2.0.0'", true, "2.0.0")]
+        public void TakesVersionFromMergeOfReleaseBranch(string message, bool isMergeCommit, string expectedVersion)
         {
             var parents = GetParents(isMergeCommit);
             AssertMergeMessage(message, expectedVersion, parents);
@@ -74,6 +60,56 @@ public void AssertMergeMessage(string message, bool isMergeCommit, string expect
             AssertMergeMessage(message + "\n ", expectedVersion, parents);
         }
 
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'", false)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'develop' of github.com:Particular/NServiceBus into develop", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch '4.0.3'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 's'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge tag '10.10.50'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-4.6.6' into support-4.6", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-10.10.50'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Hotfix-10.10.50'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'Hotfix/10.10.50'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-4.2.2' into support-4.2", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'somebranch' into release-3.0.0", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'hotfix-0.1.5'\n\nRelates to: TicketId", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'alpha-0.1.5'", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 from Particular/issue-94", false)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 in Particular/issue-94", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #95 in Particular/issue-94", false)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #64 from arledesma/feature-VS2013_3rd_party_test_framework_support", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #500 in FOO/bar from Particular/release-1.0.0 to develop)", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #500 in FOO/bar from feature/new-service to develop)", true)]
+        [TestCase("Finish 0.14.1", true)] // Don't support Syntevo SmartGit/Hg's Gitflow merge commit messages for finishing a 'Hotfix' branch
+        public void ShouldNotTakeVersionFromMergeOfNonReleaseBranch(string message, bool isMergeCommit)
+        {
+            var parents = GetParents(isMergeCommit);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message, null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + " ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r\n", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r\n ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\n", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\n ", null, parents);
+        }
+
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #165 from Particular/release-1.0.0", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #165 in Particular/release-1.0.0", true)]
+        [TestCase("Merge pull request #500 in FOO/bar from Particular/release-1.0.0 to develop)", true)]
+        public void ShouldNotTakeVersionFromMergeOfReleaseBranchWithRemoteOtherThanOrigin(string message, bool isMergeCommit)
+        {
+            var parents = GetParents(isMergeCommit);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message, null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + " ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r\n", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\r\n ", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\n", null, parents);
+            AssertMergeMessage(message + "\n ", null, parents);
+        }
+
         [TestCase(@"Merge pull request #1 in FOO/bar from feature/ISSUE-1 to develop
 
 * commit '38560a7eed06e8d3f3f1aaf091befcdf8bf50fea':
@@ -89,14 +125,26 @@ Another commit message
         [TestCase(@"Merge branch 'master' of http://172.16.3.10:8082/r/asu_tk/p_sd")]
         [TestCase(@"Merge branch 'master' of http://212.248.89.56:8082/r/asu_tk/p_sd")]
         [TestCase(@"Merge branch 'DEMO' of http://10.10.10.121/gitlab/mtolland/orcid into DEMO")]
-        public void MergeMessagesThatIsNotRelatedToGitVersion(string commitMessage)
+        public void ShouldNotTakeVersionFromUnrelatedMerge(string commitMessage)
         {
             var parents = GetParents(true);
 
             AssertMergeMessage(commitMessage, null, parents);
         } 
 
-        static void AssertMergeMessage(string message, string expectedVersion, List<Commit> parents)
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'support/0.2.0'", "support", "0.2.0")]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'support/0.2.0'", null, null)]
+        [TestCase("Merge branch 'release/2.0.0'", null, "2.0.0")]
+        public void TakesVersionFromMergeOfConfiguredReleaseBranch(string message, string releaseBranch, string expectedVersion)
+        {
+            var config = new Config();
+            if (releaseBranch != null) config.Branches[releaseBranch] = new BranchConfig { IsReleaseBranch = true };
+            var parents = GetParents(true);
+
+            AssertMergeMessage(message, expectedVersion, parents, config);
+        }
+
+        static void AssertMergeMessage(string message, string expectedVersion, List<Commit> parents, Config config = null)
         {
             var commit = new MockCommit
             {
@@ -105,6 +153,7 @@ static void AssertMergeMessage(string message, string expectedVersion, List<Comm
             };
 
             var context = new GitVersionContextBuilder()
+                .WithConfig(config ?? new Config())
                 .WithRepository(new MockRepository
                 {
                     Head = new MockBranch("master")
@@ -145,4 +194,4 @@ static List<Commit> GetParents(bool isMergeCommit)
         };
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
index 106d729260..a4e96e9847 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore.Tests/VersionCalculation/Strategies/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategyTests.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.VersionCalculation.Strategies
+namespace GitVersionCore.Tests.VersionCalculation.Strategies
 {
+    using System.Collections.Generic;
     using System.Linq;
     using GitTools.Testing;
     using GitVersion;
@@ -11,13 +12,9 @@
     [TestFixture]
     public class VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategyTests : TestBase
     {
-        [Test]
         [TestCase("release-2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("release/2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("hotfix-2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("hotfix/2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
-        [TestCase("custom/JIRA-123", null)]
-        public void CanTakeVersionFromBranchName(string branchName, string expectedBaseVersion)
+        [TestCase("release/3.0.0", "3.0.0")]
+        public void CanTakeVersionFromNameOfReleaseBranch(string branchName, string expectedBaseVersion)
         {
             using (var fixture = new EmptyRepositoryFixture())
             {
@@ -26,12 +23,68 @@ public void CanTakeVersionFromBranchName(string branchName, string expectedBaseV
                 var sut = new VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy();
 
                 var gitVersionContext = new GitVersionContext(fixture.Repository, branch, new Config().ApplyDefaults());
-                var baseVersion = sut.GetVersions(gitVersionContext).SingleOrDefault();
+                var baseVersion = sut.GetVersions(gitVersionContext).Single();
 
-                if (expectedBaseVersion == null)
-                    baseVersion.ShouldBe(null);
-                else
-                    baseVersion.SemanticVersion.ToString().ShouldBe(expectedBaseVersion);
+                baseVersion.SemanticVersion.ToString().ShouldBe(expectedBaseVersion);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [TestCase("hotfix-2.0.0")]
+        [TestCase("hotfix/2.0.0")]
+        [TestCase("custom/JIRA-123")]
+        [TestCase("hotfix/downgrade-to-gitversion-3.6.5-to-fix-miscalculated-version")]
+        public void ShouldNotTakeVersionFromNameOfNonReleaseBranch(string branchName)
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new EmptyRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.Repository.MakeACommit();
+                var branch = fixture.Repository.CreateBranch(branchName);
+                var sut = new VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy();
+
+                var gitVersionContext = new GitVersionContext(fixture.Repository, branch, new Config().ApplyDefaults());
+                var baseVersions = sut.GetVersions(gitVersionContext);
+
+                baseVersions.ShouldBeEmpty();
+            }
+        }
+
+        [TestCase("support/lts-2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
+        [TestCase("support-3.0.0-lts", "3.0.0")]
+        public void CanTakeVersionFromNameOfConfiguredReleaseBranch(string branchName, string expectedBaseVersion)
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new EmptyRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                fixture.Repository.MakeACommit();
+                var branch = fixture.Repository.CreateBranch(branchName);
+                var sut = new VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy();
+                var branchConfigs = new Dictionary<string, BranchConfig> { { "support", new BranchConfig { IsReleaseBranch = true } } };
+                var config = new Config { Branches = branchConfigs }.ApplyDefaults();
+
+                var gitVersionContext = new GitVersionContext(fixture.Repository, branch, config);
+                var baseVersion = sut.GetVersions(gitVersionContext).Single();
+
+                baseVersion.SemanticVersion.ToString().ShouldBe(expectedBaseVersion);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [TestCase("release-2.0.0", "2.0.0")]
+        [TestCase("release/3.0.0", "3.0.0")]
+        public void CanTakeVersionFromNameOfRemoteReleaseBranch(string branchName, string expectedBaseVersion)
+        {
+            using (var fixture = new RemoteRepositoryFixture())
+            {
+                var branch = fixture.Repository.CreateBranch(branchName);
+                Commands.Checkout(fixture.Repository, branch);
+                fixture.MakeACommit();
+
+                Commands.Fetch((Repository)fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository, fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Repository.Network.Remotes.First().Name, new string[0], new FetchOptions(), null);
+                fixture.LocalRepositoryFixture.Checkout($"origin/{branchName}");
+
+                var sut = new VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy();
+                var gitVersionContext = new GitVersionContext(fixture.Repository, branch, new Config().ApplyDefaults());
+                var baseVersion = sut.GetVersions(gitVersionContext).Single();
+
+                baseVersion.SemanticVersion.ToString().ShouldBe(expectedBaseVersion);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/AssemblyInfo.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/AssemblyInfo.cs
index 6e1a098179..9067589fbb 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/AssemblyInfo.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/AssemblyInfo.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using System.Reflection;
+using System.Reflection;
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 
 [assembly: AssemblyTitle("GitVersionCore")]
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/Configuration/Config.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/Configuration/Config.cs
index ba2481d5d6..ba04dff821 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/Configuration/Config.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/Configuration/Config.cs
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ T MergeObjects<T>(T target, T source)
             return target;
         }
 
+        public bool IsReleaseBranch(string branchName) => GetConfigForBranch(branchName)?.IsReleaseBranch ?? false;
+
         [YamlMember(Alias = "ignore")]
         public IgnoreConfig Ignore { get; set; }
 
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/LibGitExtensions.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/LibGitExtensions.cs
index 711787d6af..fc9a32c108 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/LibGitExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/LibGitExtensions.cs
@@ -15,14 +15,18 @@ public static DateTimeOffset When(this Commit commit)
             return commit.Committer.When;
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Checks if the two branch objects refer to the same branch (have the same friendly name).
-        /// </summary>
         public static string NameWithoutRemote(this Branch branch)
         {
-            return branch.IsRemote ?
-                branch.FriendlyName.Substring(branch.FriendlyName.IndexOf("/", StringComparison.Ordinal) + 1) :
-                branch.FriendlyName;
+            return branch.IsRemote
+                ? branch.FriendlyName.Substring(branch.FriendlyName.IndexOf("/", StringComparison.Ordinal) + 1)
+                : branch.FriendlyName;
+        }
+
+        public static string NameWithoutOrigin(this Branch branch)
+        {
+            return branch.IsRemote && branch.FriendlyName.StartsWith("origin/")
+                ? branch.FriendlyName.Substring("origin/".Length)
+                : branch.FriendlyName;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/MergeMessage.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/MergeMessage.cs
index d3fb58cfed..059bcf36dd 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/MergeMessage.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/MergeMessage.cs
@@ -18,16 +18,14 @@ class MergeMessage
             @"^Finish (?<Branch>.*)",
             RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Compiled);
         static Regex parseRemoteTrackingMergeMessage = new Regex(
-            @"^Merge remote-tracking branch '(?<SourceBranch>.*)' into (?<TargetBranch>.*)",
+            @"^Merge remote-tracking branch '(?<SourceBranch>.*)'( into (?<TargetBranch>.*))?",
             RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Compiled);
 
         private string mergeMessage;
-        private Config config;
 
         public MergeMessage(string mergeMessage, Config config)
         {
             this.mergeMessage = mergeMessage;
-            this.config = config;
 
             var lastIndexOf = mergeMessage.LastIndexOf("into", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
             if (lastIndexOf != -1)
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategy.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategy.cs
index e9fac9c84c..dae854251b 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/MergeMessageBaseVersionStrategy.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-namespace GitVersion.VersionCalculation.BaseVersionCalculators
+namespace GitVersion.VersionCalculation.BaseVersionCalculators
 {
     using System.Collections.Generic;
     using System.Linq;
+    using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
     using LibGit2Sharp;
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -18,13 +19,14 @@ public override IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetVersions(GitVersionContext context)
             var baseVersions = commitsPriorToThan
                 .SelectMany(c =>
                 {
-                    SemanticVersion semanticVersion;
-                    if (TryParse(c, context, out semanticVersion))
+                    if (TryParse(c, context, out var mergeMessage) &&
+                        mergeMessage.Version != null &&
+                        context.FullConfiguration.IsReleaseBranch(TrimRemote(mergeMessage.MergedBranch)))
                     {
                         var shouldIncrement = !context.Configuration.PreventIncrementForMergedBranchVersion;
                         return new[]
                         {
-                            new BaseVersion(context, string.Format("Merge message '{0}'", c.Message.Trim()), shouldIncrement, semanticVersion, c, null)
+                            new BaseVersion(context, $"Merge message '{c.Message.Trim()}'", shouldIncrement, mergeMessage.Version, c, null)
                         };
                     }
                     return Enumerable.Empty<BaseVersion>();
@@ -32,13 +34,13 @@ public override IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetVersions(GitVersionContext context)
             return baseVersions;
         }
 
-        static bool TryParse(Commit mergeCommit, GitVersionContext context, out SemanticVersion semanticVersion)
+        static bool TryParse(Commit mergeCommit, GitVersionContext context, out MergeMessage mergeMessage)
         {
-            semanticVersion = Inner(mergeCommit, context);
-            return semanticVersion != null;
+            mergeMessage = Inner(mergeCommit, context);
+            return mergeMessage != null;
         }
 
-        static SemanticVersion Inner(Commit mergeCommit, GitVersionContext context)
+        static MergeMessage Inner(Commit mergeCommit, GitVersionContext context)
         {
             if (mergeCommit.Parents.Count() < 2)
             {
@@ -46,7 +48,11 @@ static SemanticVersion Inner(Commit mergeCommit, GitVersionContext context)
             }
 
             var mergeMessage = new MergeMessage(mergeCommit.Message, context.FullConfiguration);
-            return mergeMessage.Version;
+            return mergeMessage;
         }
+
+        static string TrimRemote(string branchName) => branchName
+            .RegexReplace("^refs/remotes/", string.Empty, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
+            .RegexReplace("^origin/", string.Empty, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy.cs
index db2546e06a..8bb11d0a51 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/BaseVersionCalculators/VersionInBranchNameBaseVersionStrategy.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-namespace GitVersion.VersionCalculation.BaseVersionCalculators
+namespace GitVersion.VersionCalculation.BaseVersionCalculators
 {
     using System;
     using System.Collections.Generic;
+
     using LibGit2Sharp;
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -15,12 +16,16 @@ public override IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetVersions(GitVersionContext context)
         {
             var currentBranch = context.CurrentBranch;
             var tagPrefixRegex = context.Configuration.GitTagPrefix;
-            var repository = context.Repository;
-            return GetVersions(context, tagPrefixRegex, currentBranch, repository);
+            return GetVersions(context, tagPrefixRegex, currentBranch);
         }
 
-        public IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetVersions(GitVersionContext context, string tagPrefixRegex, Branch currentBranch, IRepository repository)
+        public IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetVersions(GitVersionContext context, string tagPrefixRegex, Branch currentBranch)
         {
+            if (!context.FullConfiguration.IsReleaseBranch(currentBranch.NameWithoutOrigin()))
+            {
+                yield break;
+            }
+
             var branchName = currentBranch.FriendlyName;
             var versionInBranch = GetVersionInBranch(branchName, tagPrefixRegex);
             if (versionInBranch != null)
@@ -46,4 +51,4 @@ Tuple<string, SemanticVersion> GetVersionInBranch(string branchName, string tagP
             return null;
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/DevelopVersionStrategy.cs b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/DevelopVersionStrategy.cs
index 9333863f9d..57ee1edf56 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/DevelopVersionStrategy.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionCore/VersionCalculation/DevelopVersionStrategy.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ IEnumerable<BaseVersion> GetReleaseVersion(GitVersionContext context, Branch rel
             }
 
             return releaseVersionStrategy
-                .GetVersions(context, tagPrefixRegex, releaseBranch, repository)
+                .GetVersions(context, tagPrefixRegex, releaseBranch)
                 .Select(b => new BaseVersion(context, b.Source, true, b.SemanticVersion, baseSource, b.BranchNameOverride));
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/GitVersionExe/AssemblyInfo.cs b/src/GitVersionExe/AssemblyInfo.cs
index 5ca2afeb27..e75c30ff1b 100644
--- a/src/GitVersionExe/AssemblyInfo.cs
+++ b/src/GitVersionExe/AssemblyInfo.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using System.Reflection;
+using System.Reflection;
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 
 [assembly: AssemblyTitle("GitVersion")]