diff --git a/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl b/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
index 1f6efefe5..1a7c916bc 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
             # compiler
             compiler = ctx.attr.compiler,
             target_cpu = ctx.attr.cpu,
+            target_system_name = ctx.expand_make_variables("target_system_name", ctx.attr.target_system_name, {}),
             # These fields are only relevant for legacy toolchain resolution.
-            target_system_name = "",
             target_libc = "",
             abi_version = "",
             abi_libc_version = "",
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ cc_toolchain_config = rule(
         # Attributes new to this rule.
         "compiler": attr.string(default = ""),
         "cpu": attr.string(default = ""),
+        "target_system_name": attr.string(default = ""),
         "tool_map": attr.label(providers = [ToolConfigInfo], mandatory = True),
         "args": attr.label_list(providers = [ArgsListInfo]),
         "known_features": attr.label_list(providers = [FeatureSetInfo]),
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl b/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
index fa41163ab..b804b7e33 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def cc_toolchain(
         supports_header_parsing = False,
         supports_param_files = False,
         compiler = "",
+        target_system_name = None,
         **kwargs):
     """A C/C++ toolchain configuration.
 
@@ -158,6 +159,10 @@ def cc_toolchain(
         compiler: (str) The type of compiler used by this toolchain (e.g. "gcc", "clang"). The current
             toolchain's compiler is exposed to `@rules_cc//cc/private/toolchain:compiler
             (compiler_flag)` as a flag value.
+        target_system_name: (str) The target system name for this toolchain. This is exposed through the
+            toolchain info providers. This string is commonly the target triple you would pass to
+            `clang -target` (e.g. "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu", "aarch64-apple-darwin"). If not
+            provided, a default is selected based on the target platform..
         **kwargs: [common attributes](https://bazel.build/reference/be/common-definitions#common-attributes)
             that should be applied to all rules created by this macro.
     """
@@ -177,6 +182,15 @@ def cc_toolchain(
         known_features = known_features,
         enabled_features = enabled_features,
         compiler = compiler,
+        target_system_name = target_system_name or select({
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_aarch64"): "aarch64-apple-darwin",
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_x86_64"): "x86_64-apple-darwin",
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:linux_aarch64"): "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu",
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:linux_x86_64"): "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu",
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:windows_x86_32"): "i686-pc-windows-msvc",
+            Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:windows_x86_64"): "x86_64-pc-windows-msvc",
+            "//conditions:default": "",
+        }),
         cpu = select({
             Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_aarch64"): "darwin_arm64",
             Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_x86_64"): "darwin_x86_64",