diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/README.md b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/README.md
index ea6cd5e87b40..c24a6a582b75 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/README.md
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/README.md
@@ -1,94 +1,134 @@
 # Metrics Transform Processor
+
 Supported pipeline types: metrics
-- This ONLY supports renames/aggregations **within individual metrics**. It does not do any aggregation across batches, so it is not suitable for aggregating metrics from multiple sources (e.g. multiple nodes or clients). At this point, it is only for aggregating metrics from a single source that groups its metrics for a particular time period into a single batch (e.g. host metrics from the VM the collector is running on).
-- Rename Collisions will result in a no operation on the metrics data
-  - e.g. If want to rename a metric or label to `new_name` while there is already a metric or label called `new_name`, this operation will not take any effect. There will also be an error logged
 
 ## Description
-The metrics transform processor can be used to rename metrics, labels, or label values. It can also be used to perform aggregations on metrics across labels or label values.
-
-## Capabilities
-- Rename metrics (e.g. rename `cpu/usage` to `cpu/usage_time`)
-- Rename labels (e.g. rename `cpu` to `core`)
-- Rename label values (e.g. rename `done` to `complete`)
-- Aggregate across label sets (e.g. only want the label `usage`, but don’t care about the labels `core`, and `cpu`)
-  - Aggregation_type: sum, mean, max
-- Aggregate across label values (e.g. want `memory{slab}`, but don’t care about `memory{slab_reclaimable}` & `memory{slab_unreclaimable}`)
-  - Aggregation_type: sum, mean, max
-- Add label to an existing metric
-- When adding or updating a label value, specify `{{version}}` to include the application version number
+
+The metrics transform processor can be used to rename metrics, and add, rename or delete label keys and values. It can also be used to perform aggregations on metrics across labels or label values. The complete list of supported operations that can be applied to one or more metrics is provided in the below table.
+
+:information_source: This processor only supports renames/aggregations **within a batch of metrics**. It does not do any aggregation across batches, so it is not suitable for aggregating metrics from multiple sources (e.g. multiple nodes or clients).
+
+| Operation | Example |
+| --- | --- |
+| Rename metrics | Rename `system.cpu.usage` to `system.cpu.usage_time` |
+| Add labels | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, add new label `identifier` with value `1` to all data points |
+| Rename label keys | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, rename label `state` to `cpu_state` |
+| Rename label values | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, label `state`, rename label value `idle` to `-` |
+| Delete label values | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, delete all data points where label `state` has value `idle` |
+| Toggle the data type of scalar metrics between `int` and `double` | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, change from `int` data points to `double` data points |
+| Aggregate across label sets by sum, mean, min, or max | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, retain the label `state`, but aggregate away the label `cpu` |
+| Aggregate across label values by sum, mean, min, or max | For metric `system.cpu.usage`, label `state`, calculate `used = sum{user + system}` |
+
+In addition to the above, when adding or updating a label value, specify `{{version}}` to include the application version number
 
 ## Configuration
+
+Configuration is specified through a list of transformations and operations. Transformations and operations will be applied to all metrics in order so that later transformations or operations may reference the result of previous transformations or operations.
+
 ```yaml
 # transforms is a list of transformations with each element transforming a metric selected by metric name
 transforms:
-  # name is used to match with the metric to operate on. This implementation doesn’t utilize the filtermetric’s MatchProperties struct because it doesn’t match well with what I need at this phase. All is needed for this processor at this stage is a single name string that can be used to match with selected metrics. The list of metric names and the match type in the filtermetric’s MatchProperties struct are unnecessary. Also, based on the issue about improving filtering configuration, it seems like this struct is subject to be slightly modified.
-  - metric_name: <current_metric_name>
-
-  # action specifies if the operations are performed on the current copy of the metric or on a newly created metric that will be inserted
+    # include specifies the metric name used to determine which metric(s) to operate on
+  - include: <metric_name>
+    # match_type specifies whether the include name should be used as a strict match or regexp match, default = strict
+    match_type: {strict, regexp}
+    # action specifies if the operations are performed on the metric in place, or on an inserted clone
     action: {update, insert}
-
-  # new_name is used to rename metrics (e.g. rename cpu/usage to cpu/usage_time) if action is insert, new_name is required
+    # new_name specifies the updated name of the metric; if action is insert, new_name is required
     new_name: <new_metric_name_inserted>
-
-  # operations contain a list of operations that will be performed on the selected metrics. Each operation block is a key-value pair, where the key can be any arbitrary string set by the users for readability, and the value is a struct with fields required for operations. The action field is important for the processor to identify exactly which operation to perform 
+    # operations contain a list of operations that will be performed on the selected metrics
     operations:
-
-    # update_label action can be used to update the name of a label or the values of this label (e.g. rename label `cpu` to `core`)
-    - action: update_label
-      label: <current_label1>
-      new_label: <new_label>
-      value_actions:
-      - value: <current_label_value>
-        new_value: <new_label_value>
-
-    # aggregate_labels action aggregates metrics across labels (e.g. only want the label `usage`, but don’t care about the labels `core`, and `cpu`)
-    - action: aggregate_labels
-    # label_set contains a list of labels that will remain after the aggregation. The excluded labels will be aggregated by the way specified by aggregation_type.
-      label_set: [labels...]
-      aggregation_type: {sum, mean, max}
-
-    # aggregate_label_values action aggregates labels across label values (e.g. want memory{slab}, but don’t care about memory{slab_reclaimable} & memory{slab_unreclaimable})
-    - action: aggregate_label_values
-      label: <label>
-    # aggregated_values contains a list of label values that will be aggregated by the way specified by aggregation_type into new_value. The excluded label values will remain.
-      aggregated_values: [values...]
-      new_value: <new_value> 
-      aggregation_type: {sum, mean, max}
+        # update_label action can be used to update the name of a label or the values of this label
+      - action: {add_label, update_label, delete_label_value, toggle_scalar_data_type, aggregate_labels, aggregate_label_values}
+        # label specifies the label to operate on
+        label: <label>
+        # new_label specifies the updated name of the label; if action is add_label, new_label is required
+        new_label: <new_label>
+        # aggregated_values contains a list of label values that will be aggregated; if action is aggregate_label_values, aggregated_values is required
+        aggregated_values: [values...]
+        # new_label specifies the updated name of the label value; if action is add_label or aggregate_label_values, new_value is required
+        new_value: <new_value>
+        # label_set contains a list of labels that will remain after aggregation; if action is aggregate_labels, label_set is required
+        label_set: [labels...]
+        # aggregation_type defines how excluded labels will be aggregated
+        aggregation_type: {sum, mean, max}
+        # value_actions contain a list of operations that will be performed on the selected label
+        value_actions:
+            # value specifies the value to operate on
+          - value: <current_label_value>
+            # new_value specifies the updated value
+            new_value: <new_label_value>
 ```
 
 ## Examples
 
-### Insert New Metric
+### Create a new metric from an existing metric
 ```yaml
 # create host.cpu.utilization from host.cpu.usage
-metric_name: host.cpu.usage
+include: host.cpu.usage
 action: insert
 new_name: host.cpu.utilization
 operations:
   ...
 ```
 
-### Rename Metric
+### Rename metric
+```yaml
+# rename system.cpu.usage to system.cpu.usage_time
+include: system.cpu.usage
+action: update
+new_name: system.cpu.usage_time
+```
+
+### Add a label
+```yaml
+# for system.cpu.usage_time, add label `version` with value `opentelemetry collector vX.Y.Z` to all points
+include: system.cpu.usage
+action: update
+operations:
+  - action: add_label
+    new_label: version
+    new_value: opentelemetry collector {{version}}
+```
+
+### Add a label to multiple metrics
 ```yaml
-# rename system.cpu.usage to cpu/usage_time
-metric_name: system.cpu.usage
+# for all system metrics, add label `version` with value `opentelemetry collector vX.Y.Z` to all points
+include: ^system\.
+match_type: regexp
 action: update
-new_name: cpu/usage_time
+operations:
+  - action: add_label
+    new_label: version
+    new_value: opentelemetry collector {{version}}
 ```
 
-### Rename Labels
+### Rename labels
 ```yaml
-# rename the label cpu to core
+# for system.cpu.usage_time, rename the label state to cpu_state
+include: system.cpu.usage
+action: update
 operations:
   - action: update_label
-    label: cpu
-    new_label: core
+    label: state
+    new_label: cpu_state
 ```
 
-### Rename Label Values
+### Rename labels for multiple metrics
+```yaml
+# for all system.cpu metrics, rename the label state to cpu_state
+include: ^system\.cpu\.
+action: update
+operations:
+  - action: update_label
+    label: state
+    new_label: cpu_state
+```
+
+### Rename label values
 ```yaml
 # rename the label value slab_reclaimable to sreclaimable, slab_unreclaimable to sunreclaimable
+...
 operations:
   - action: update_label
     label: state
@@ -99,9 +139,27 @@ operations:
         new_value: sunreclaimable
 ```
 
-### Aggregate Labels
+### Delete label value
 ```yaml
-# aggregate away everything but `state` using summation
+# delete the label value 'value' of the label 'label'
+...
+operation:
+  - action: delete_label_value
+    label: label
+    label_value: value
+```
+
+### Toggle datatype
+```yaml
+# toggle the datatype for a metric
+...
+operation:
+  - action: toggle_scalar_data_type
+```
+
+### Aggregate labels
+```yaml
+# aggregate away all labels except `state` using summation
 ...
 operations:
   - action: aggregate_labels
@@ -109,9 +167,9 @@ operations:
     aggregation_type: sum
 ```
 
-### Aggregate Label Values
+### Aggregate label values
 ```yaml
-# combine slab_reclaimable & slab_unreclaimable by summation
+# aggregate data points with state label value slab_reclaimable & slab_unreclaimable using summation
 ...
 operations:
   - action: aggregate_label_values
@@ -120,31 +178,3 @@ operations:
     new_value: slab 
     aggregation_type: sum
 ```
-
-### Add a label to an existing metric
-```yaml
-...
-# add label `version` with value `opentelemetry collector vX.Y.Z` to all points
-operations:
-  - action: add_label
-    new_label: version
-    new_value: opentelemetry collector {{version}}
-```
-
-### Toggle Datatype
-```yaml
-# toggle the datatype for the metric system.cpu.usage
-...
-operation:
-  - action: toggle_scalar_data_type
-```
-
-### Delete Label Value
-```yaml
-# delete the label value 'value' of the label 'label'
-...
-operation:
-  - action: delete_label_value
-    label: label
-    label_value: value
-```
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config.go
index a21dd936a9a9..f98cb25e1fcd 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config.go
@@ -14,9 +14,17 @@
 
 package metricstransformprocessor
 
-import "go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configmodels"
+import (
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configmodels"
+)
 
 const (
+	// IncludeFieldName is the mapstructure field name for Include field
+	IncludeFieldName = "include"
+
+	// MatchTypeFieldName is the mapstructure field name for MatchType field
+	MatchTypeFieldName = "match_type"
+
 	// MetricNameFieldName is the mapstructure field name for MetricName field
 	MetricNameFieldName = "metric_name"
 
@@ -36,6 +44,16 @@ const (
 	NewValueFieldName = "new_value"
 )
 
+const (
+	// StrictMatchType is the FilterType for filtering by exact string matches.
+	StrictMatchType = "strict"
+
+	// RegexpMatchType is the FilterType for filtering by regexp string matches.
+	RegexpMatchType = "regexp"
+)
+
+var MatchTypes = []string{StrictMatchType, RegexpMatchType}
+
 // Config defines configuration for Resource processor.
 type Config struct {
 	configmodels.ProcessorSettings `mapstructure:",squash"`
@@ -46,8 +64,12 @@ type Config struct {
 
 // Transform defines the transformation applied to the specific metric
 type Transform struct {
-	// MetricName is used to select the metric to operate on.
+	// MetricIncludeFilter is used to select the metric(s) to operate on.
 	// REQUIRED
+	MetricIncludeFilter FilterConfig `mapstructure:",squash"`
+
+	// MetricName is used to select the metric to operate on.
+	// DEPRECATED
 	MetricName string `mapstructure:"metric_name"`
 
 	// Action specifies the action performed on the matched metric.
@@ -62,6 +84,14 @@ type Transform struct {
 	Operations []Operation `mapstructure:"operations"`
 }
 
+type FilterConfig struct {
+	// Include specifies the metric(s) to operate on.
+	Include string `mapstructure:"include"`
+
+	// MatchType determines how the Include string is matched: <strict|regexp>.
+	MatchType string `mapstructure:"match_type"`
+}
+
 // Operation defines the specific operation performed on the selected metrics.
 type Operation struct {
 	// Action specifies the action performed for this operation.
@@ -127,6 +157,9 @@ const (
 	// UpdateLabel applies name changes to label and/or label values.
 	UpdateLabel OperationAction = "update_label"
 
+	// DeleteLabelValue deletes a label value by also removing all the points associated with this label value
+	DeleteLabelValue OperationAction = "delete_label_value"
+
 	// AggregateLabels aggregates away all labels other than the ones in Operation.LabelSet
 	// by the method indicated by Operation.AggregationType.
 	AggregateLabels OperationAction = "aggregate_labels"
@@ -135,9 +168,6 @@ const (
 	// by the method indicated by Operation.AggregationType.
 	AggregateLabelValues OperationAction = "aggregate_label_values"
 
-	// DeleteLabelValue deletes a label value by also removing all the points associated with this label value
-	DeleteLabelValue OperationAction = "delete_label_value"
-
 	// Mean indicates taking the mean of the aggregated data.
 	Mean AggregationType = "mean"
 
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config_test.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config_test.go
index 301ea3c643e0..e38978d69adf 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config_test.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/config_test.go
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ var (
 				},
 				Transforms: []Transform{
 					{
-						MetricName: "old_name",
+						MetricIncludeFilter: FilterConfig{
+							Include: "old_name",
+						},
 						Action:     Update,
 						NewName:    "new_name",
 						Operations: testDataOperations,
@@ -88,8 +90,11 @@ var (
 				},
 				Transforms: []Transform{
 					{
-						MetricName: "some_name",
-						Action:     Update,
+						MetricIncludeFilter: FilterConfig{
+							Include:   "some_name",
+							MatchType: "regexp",
+						},
+						Action: Update,
 						Operations: []Operation{
 							{
 								Action:   AddLabel,
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory.go
index bf14cac45cd7..bface7f0a478 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package metricstransformprocessor
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component"
@@ -60,7 +61,12 @@ func createMetricsProcessor(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	metricsProcessor := newMetricsTransformProcessor(params.Logger, buildHelperConfig(oCfg, params.ApplicationStartInfo.Version))
+	internalTransforms, err := buildHelperConfig(oCfg, params.ApplicationStartInfo.Version)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	metricsProcessor := newMetricsTransformProcessor(params.Logger, internalTransforms)
 
 	return processorhelper.NewMetricsProcessor(
 		cfg,
@@ -73,8 +79,26 @@ func createMetricsProcessor(
 // An error is returned if there are any invalid inputs.
 func validateConfiguration(config *Config) error {
 	for _, transform := range config.Transforms {
-		if transform.MetricName == "" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("missing required field %q", MetricNameFieldName)
+		if transform.MetricIncludeFilter.Include == "" && transform.MetricName == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("missing required field %q", IncludeFieldName)
+		}
+
+		if transform.MetricIncludeFilter.MatchType != "" {
+			var validMatchType bool
+			for _, matchType := range MatchTypes {
+				if transform.MetricIncludeFilter.MatchType == matchType {
+					validMatchType = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+
+			if !validMatchType {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%q must be in %q", MatchTypeFieldName, MatchTypes)
+			}
+		}
+
+		if transform.MetricIncludeFilter.Include != "" && transform.MetricName != "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot supply both %q and %q, use %q with %q match type", IncludeFieldName, MetricNameFieldName, IncludeFieldName, StrictMatchType)
 		}
 
 		if transform.Action != Update && transform.Action != Insert {
@@ -101,15 +125,29 @@ func validateConfiguration(config *Config) error {
 }
 
 // buildHelperConfig constructs the maps that will be useful for the operations
-func buildHelperConfig(config *Config, version string) []internalTransform {
+func buildHelperConfig(config *Config, version string) ([]internalTransform, error) {
 	helperDataTransforms := make([]internalTransform, len(config.Transforms))
 	for i, t := range config.Transforms {
+		// for backwards compatibility, convert metric name to an include filter
+		if t.MetricName != "" {
+			t.MetricIncludeFilter = FilterConfig{
+				Include:   t.MetricName,
+				MatchType: StrictMatchType,
+			}
+		}
+
+		filter, err := createFilter(t.MetricIncludeFilter)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
 		helperT := internalTransform{
-			MetricName: t.MetricName,
-			Action:     t.Action,
-			NewName:    t.NewName,
-			Operations: make([]internalOperation, len(t.Operations)),
+			MetricIncludeFilter: filter,
+			Action:              t.Action,
+			NewName:             t.NewName,
+			Operations:          make([]internalOperation, len(t.Operations)),
 		}
+
 		for j, op := range t.Operations {
 			op.NewValue = strings.ReplaceAll(op.NewValue, "{{version}}", version)
 
@@ -128,7 +166,20 @@ func buildHelperConfig(config *Config, version string) []internalTransform {
 		}
 		helperDataTransforms[i] = helperT
 	}
-	return helperDataTransforms
+	return helperDataTransforms, nil
+}
+
+func createFilter(filterConfig FilterConfig) (internalFilter, error) {
+	switch filterConfig.MatchType {
+	case RegexpMatchType:
+		r, err := regexp.Compile(filterConfig.Include)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return internalFilterRegexp{include: r}, nil
+	default:
+		return internalFilterStrict{include: filterConfig.Include}, nil
+	}
 }
 
 // createLabelValueMapping creates the labelValue rename mappings based on the valueActions
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory_test.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory_test.go
index 5458fe75a2f3..883c9b7d15a8 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory_test.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/factory_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component/componenttest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/config/configcheck"
@@ -58,19 +59,33 @@ func TestCreateProcessors(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			configName: "config_full.yaml",
 			succeed:    true,
-		}, {
+		},
+		{
 			configName:   "config_invalid_newname.yaml",
 			succeed:      false,
 			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("missing required field %q while %q is %v", NewNameFieldName, ActionFieldName, Insert),
-		}, {
+		},
+		{
 			configName:   "config_invalid_action.yaml",
 			succeed:      false,
 			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("unsupported %q: %v, the supported actions are %q and %q", ActionFieldName, "invalid", Insert, Update),
-		}, {
-			configName:   "config_invalid_metricname.yaml",
+		},
+		{
+			configName:   "config_invalid_include.yaml",
+			succeed:      false,
+			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("missing required field %q", IncludeFieldName),
+		},
+		{
+			configName:   "config_invalid_include_and_metricname.yaml",
 			succeed:      false,
-			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("missing required field %q", MetricNameFieldName),
-		}, {
+			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("cannot supply both %q and %q, use %q with %q match type", IncludeFieldName, MetricNameFieldName, IncludeFieldName, StrictMatchType),
+		},
+		{
+			configName:   "config_invalid_matchtype.yaml",
+			succeed:      false,
+			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("%q must be in %q", MatchTypeFieldName, MatchTypes),
+		},
+		{
 			configName:   "config_invalid_label.yaml",
 			succeed:      false,
 			errorMessage: fmt.Sprintf("missing required field %q while %q is %v in the %vth operation", LabelFieldName, ActionFieldName, UpdateLabel, 0),
@@ -195,9 +210,9 @@ func TestCreateProcessorsFilledData(t *testing.T) {
 
 	expData := []internalTransform{
 		{
-			MetricName: "name",
-			Action:     Update,
-			NewName:    "new-name",
+			MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "name"},
+			Action:              Update,
+			NewName:             "new-name",
 			Operations: []internalOperation{
 				{
 					configOperation: Operation{
@@ -248,13 +263,14 @@ func TestCreateProcessorsFilledData(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	internalTransforms := buildHelperConfig(oCfg, "v0.0.1")
+	internalTransforms, err := buildHelperConfig(oCfg, "v0.0.1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	for i, expTr := range expData {
 		mtpT := internalTransforms[i]
 		assert.Equal(t, expTr.NewName, mtpT.NewName)
 		assert.Equal(t, expTr.Action, mtpT.Action)
-		assert.Equal(t, expTr.MetricName, mtpT.MetricName)
+		assert.Equal(t, expTr.MetricIncludeFilter.(internalFilterStrict).include, mtpT.MetricIncludeFilter.(internalFilterStrict).include)
 		for j, expOp := range expTr.Operations {
 			mtpOp := mtpT.Operations[j]
 			assert.Equal(t, expOp.configOperation, mtpOp.configOperation)
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor.go
index 5426ee63db05..9d02758e2e42 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor.go
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ package metricstransformprocessor
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"regexp"
 
 	metricspb "github.com/census-instrumentation/opencensus-proto/gen-go/metrics/v1"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/consumer/consumerdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/consumer/pdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/processor/processorhelper"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/translator/internaldata"
@@ -27,10 +29,42 @@ import (
 )
 
 type internalTransform struct {
-	MetricName string
-	Action     ConfigAction
-	NewName    string
-	Operations []internalOperation
+	MetricIncludeFilter internalFilter
+	Action              ConfigAction
+	NewName             string
+	Operations          []internalOperation
+}
+
+type internalFilter interface {
+	getMatches(toMatch metricNameMapping) []*metricspb.Metric
+}
+
+type internalFilterStrict struct {
+	include string
+}
+
+func (f internalFilterStrict) getMatches(toMatch metricNameMapping) []*metricspb.Metric {
+	if metrics, ok := toMatch[f.include]; ok {
+		return metrics
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+type internalFilterRegexp struct {
+	include *regexp.Regexp
+}
+
+func (f internalFilterRegexp) getMatches(toMatch metricNameMapping) []*metricspb.Metric {
+	const capExpectedMatches = 10
+
+	matches := make([]*metricspb.Metric, 0, capExpectedMatches)
+	for name, metrics := range toMatch {
+		if matched := f.include.MatchString(name); matched {
+			matches = append(matches, metrics...)
+		}
+	}
+	return matches
 }
 
 type internalOperation struct {
@@ -47,6 +81,31 @@ type metricsTransformProcessor struct {
 
 var _ processorhelper.MProcessor = (*metricsTransformProcessor)(nil)
 
+type metricNameMapping map[string][]*metricspb.Metric
+
+func newMetricNameMapping(data *consumerdata.MetricsData) metricNameMapping {
+	mnm := metricNameMapping(make(map[string][]*metricspb.Metric, len(data.Metrics)))
+	for _, m := range data.Metrics {
+		mnm.add(m.MetricDescriptor.Name, m)
+	}
+	return mnm
+}
+
+func (mnm metricNameMapping) add(name string, metrics ...*metricspb.Metric) {
+	mnm[name] = append(mnm[name], metrics...)
+}
+
+func (mnm metricNameMapping) remove(name string, metrics ...*metricspb.Metric) {
+	for _, metric := range metrics {
+		for j, m := range mnm[name] {
+			if metric == m {
+				mnm[name] = append(mnm[name][:j], mnm[name][j+1:]...)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func newMetricsTransformProcessor(logger *zap.Logger, internalTransforms []internalTransform) *metricsTransformProcessor {
 	return &metricsTransformProcessor{
 		transforms: internalTransforms,
@@ -60,29 +119,26 @@ func (mtp *metricsTransformProcessor) ProcessMetrics(_ context.Context, md pdata
 
 	for i := range mds {
 		data := &mds[i]
-		nameToMetricMapping := make(map[string]*metricspb.Metric, len(data.Metrics))
-		for _, metric := range data.Metrics {
-			nameToMetricMapping[metric.MetricDescriptor.Name] = metric
-		}
 
+		nameToMetricMapping := newMetricNameMapping(data)
 		for _, transform := range mtp.transforms {
-			metric, ok := nameToMetricMapping[transform.MetricName]
-			if !ok {
-				continue
-			}
+			matchedMetrics := transform.MetricIncludeFilter.getMatches(nameToMetricMapping)
+			for _, metric := range matchedMetrics {
+				metricName := metric.MetricDescriptor.Name
 
-			if transform.Action == Insert {
-				metric = proto.Clone(metric).(*metricspb.Metric)
-				data.Metrics = append(data.Metrics, metric)
-			}
+				if transform.Action == Insert {
+					metric = proto.Clone(metric).(*metricspb.Metric)
+					data.Metrics = append(data.Metrics, metric)
+				}
 
-			mtp.update(metric, transform)
+				mtp.update(metric, transform)
 
-			if transform.NewName != "" {
-				if transform.Action == Update {
-					delete(nameToMetricMapping, transform.MetricName)
+				if transform.NewName != "" {
+					if transform.Action == Update {
+						nameToMetricMapping.remove(metricName, metric)
+					}
+					nameToMetricMapping.add(metric.MetricDescriptor.Name, metric)
 				}
-				nameToMetricMapping[transform.NewName] = metric
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_test.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_test.go
index 17c5c16c6472..9049da7db9a2 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_test.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_test.go
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ func BenchmarkMetricsTransformProcessorRenameMetrics(b *testing.B) {
 
 	transforms := []internalTransform{
 		{
-			MetricName: "metric1",
-			Action:     Insert,
-			NewName:    "new/metric1",
+			MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric"},
+			Action:              Insert,
+			NewName:             "new/metric1",
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_testcases_test.go b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_testcases_test.go
index f9e1ae5cb07d..a68957ad14ae 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_testcases_test.go
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/metrics_transform_processor_testcases_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 package metricstransformprocessor
 
 import (
+	"regexp"
+
 	metricspb "github.com/census-instrumentation/opencensus-proto/gen-go/metrics/v1"
 )
 
@@ -33,9 +35,9 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_name_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 				},
 			},
 			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
@@ -48,17 +50,17 @@ var (
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "metric_name_update_multiple",
+			name: "metric_name_update_chained",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 				},
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric2",
-					Action:     Update,
-					NewName:    "new/metric2",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric2"},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric2",
 				},
 			},
 			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
@@ -74,13 +76,44 @@ var (
 					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_DOUBLE).build(),
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "metric_names_update_chained",
+			transforms: []internalTransform{
+				{
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterRegexp{include: regexp.MustCompile("^metric[12]$")},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
+				},
+				{
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "new/metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric2",
+				},
+			},
+			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
+				metricBuilder().setName("metric1").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+				metricBuilder().setName("metric2").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+				metricBuilder().setName("metric3").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+			},
+			out: []*metricspb.Metric{
+				metricBuilder().setName("new/metric2").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+				metricBuilder().setName("new/metric2").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+				metricBuilder().setName("metric3").
+					setDataType(metricspb.MetricDescriptor_GAUGE_INT64).build(),
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "metric_name_update_nonexist",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "nonexist",
-					Action:     Update,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "nonexist"},
+					Action:              Update,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 				},
 			},
 			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
@@ -96,8 +129,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -128,8 +161,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_value_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -166,8 +199,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_sum_int_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -203,8 +236,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_mean_int_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -239,8 +272,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_max_int_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -276,8 +309,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_min_int_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -315,8 +348,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_sum_double_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -352,8 +385,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_mean_double_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -387,8 +420,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_max_double_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -423,8 +456,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_min_double_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -457,8 +490,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_values_aggregation_sum_int_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -504,8 +537,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_values_aggregation_sum_distribution_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -541,8 +574,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_values_aggregation_not_sum_distribution_update",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -575,9 +608,9 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_name_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 				},
 			},
 			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
@@ -595,14 +628,14 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_name_insert_multiple",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 				},
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric2",
-					Action:     Insert,
-					NewName:    "new/metric2",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric2"},
+					Action:              Insert,
+					NewName:             "new/metric2",
 				},
 			},
 			in: []*metricspb.Metric{
@@ -620,9 +653,9 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_update_with_metric_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -658,9 +691,9 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_value_update_with_metric_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
-					NewName:    "new/metric1",
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
+					NewName:             "new/metric1",
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -706,8 +739,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_aggregation_sum_int_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -749,8 +782,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_label_values_aggregation_sum_int_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -785,8 +818,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_labels_aggregation_sum_distribution_insert",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Insert,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Insert,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -823,8 +856,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_toggle_scalar_data_type_int64_to_double",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -834,8 +867,8 @@ var (
 					},
 				},
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric2",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric2"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -858,8 +891,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_toggle_scalar_data_type_double_to_int64",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -869,8 +902,8 @@ var (
 					},
 				},
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric2",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric2"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -897,8 +930,8 @@ var (
 			name: "metric_toggle_scalar_data_type_no_effect",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -922,8 +955,8 @@ var (
 			name: "update existing metric by adding a new label when there are no labels",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -954,8 +987,8 @@ var (
 			name: "update existing metric by adding a new label when there are labels",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -986,8 +1019,8 @@ var (
 			name: "update existing metric by adding a label that is duplicated in the list",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric1",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric1"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -1018,8 +1051,8 @@ var (
 			name: "update_does_not_happen_because_target_metric_doesn't_exist",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "mymetric",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "mymetric"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
@@ -1051,8 +1084,8 @@ var (
 			name: "delete_a_label_value",
 			transforms: []internalTransform{
 				{
-					MetricName: "metric",
-					Action:     Update,
+					MetricIncludeFilter: internalFilterStrict{include: "metric"},
+					Action:              Update,
 					Operations: []internalOperation{
 						{
 							configOperation: Operation{
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_full.yaml b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_full.yaml
index f6dd8e5b20d7..b80213552e78 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_full.yaml
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_full.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ receivers:
 processors:
     metricstransform:
         transforms:
-            - metric_name: old_name
+            - include: old_name
               action: update
               new_name: new_name
               operations:
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ processors:
                   aggregation_type: sum
     metricstransform/addlabel:
       transforms:
-        - metric_name: some_name
+        - include: some_name
+          match_type: regexp
           action: update
           operations:
             - action: add_label
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include.yaml b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4ea79838033b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+receivers:
+    examplereceiver:
+
+processors:
+    metricstransform:
+        transforms:
+            - action: update
+
+exporters:
+    exampleexporter:
+
+service:
+    pipelines:
+        traces:
+            receivers: [examplereceiver]
+            processors: [metricstransform]
+            exporters: [exampleexporter]
+        metrics:
+            receivers: [examplereceiver]
+            processors: [metricstransform]
+            exporters: [exampleexporter]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include_and_metricname.yaml b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include_and_metricname.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..767bcd040fcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_include_and_metricname.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+receivers:
+    examplereceiver:
+
+processors:
+    metricstransform:
+        transforms:
+            - metric_name: name1
+              include: name2
+              action: update
+
+exporters:
+    exampleexporter:
+
+service:
+    pipelines:
+        traces:
+            receivers: [examplereceiver]
+            processors: [metricstransform]
+            exporters: [exampleexporter]
+        metrics:
+            receivers: [examplereceiver]
+            processors: [metricstransform]
+            exporters: [exampleexporter]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_metricname.yaml b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_matchtype.yaml
similarity index 93%
rename from processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_metricname.yaml
rename to processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_matchtype.yaml
index 4d88a7f7a8ca..3afb5cfcc619 100644
--- a/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_metricname.yaml
+++ b/processor/metricstransformprocessor/testdata/config_invalid_matchtype.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ receivers:
 processors:
     metricstransform:
         transforms:
-            - metric_name: # missing metric name
+            - include: metric_name
+              match_type: invalid
               action: update
 
 exporters: