diff --git a/src/components/message-list/_macro-options.md b/src/components/message-list/_macro-options.md
index 7459f791b4..8db43366cf 100644
--- a/src/components/message-list/_macro-options.md
+++ b/src/components/message-list/_macro-options.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 | fromLabel         | string           | true     | The visually hidden screen reader “From” prefix for each message metadata information                                        |
 | dateLabel         | string           | true     | The visually hidden screen reader “Sent” prefix for each message metadata information                                        |
 | hiddenReadLabel   | string           | true     | The visually hidden screen reader “Read the message” prefix for each visually hidden link to the message conversation thread |
-| bodyLabel         | string           | true     | (NEW) The visually hidden screen reader "body" prefix for message body                                                       |
+| bodyLabel         | string           | false    | (NEW) The visually hidden screen reader "body" prefix for message body                                                       |
 | messages          | `Array<Message>` | true     | Settings for each [message item](#message)                                                                                   |
 
 ## Message
diff --git a/src/components/message-list/_macro.njk b/src/components/message-list/_macro.njk
index 76fc53508b..efbb448335 100644
--- a/src/components/message-list/_macro.njk
+++ b/src/components/message-list/_macro.njk
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@
                         {{ message.dateText }}
                     </dd>
                     <dt class="ons-message-item__metadata-term ons-message-item__metadata-term--body ons-u-vh">
-                        {% if params.ariaLabelMsg %}
+                        {% if params.ariaLabelMsg and not params.bodyLabel %}
                             {{ params.ariaLabelMsg | default("Message text") }}:
+                        {% else %}
+                            {{ params.bodyLabel | default("Message text") }}:
                         {% endif %}
-                        {{ params.bodyLabel | default("Message text") }}:
                     </dt>
                     <dd class="ons-message-item__metadata-value ons-message-item__metadata-value--body ons-u-fs-r ons-u-mt-s">
                         {{ message.body | safe }}
diff --git a/src/components/message-list/_macro.spec.js b/src/components/message-list/_macro.spec.js
index a1b57b2a9f..0143c0e543 100644
--- a/src/components/message-list/_macro.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/message-list/_macro.spec.js
@@ -42,9 +42,45 @@ const EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST = {
     ariaLabelMetaData: 'Message information',
 };
 
-const EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WITH_DEPRECATED_ariaLabelMsg_PARAM = {
-    ...EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_MINIMAL,
-    ariaLabelMsg: 'Message Preview',
+const EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WITH_DEPRECATED_ARIALABELMSG_PARAM = {
+    unreadText: 'New',
+    fromLabel: 'From',
+    dateLabel: 'Date',
+    hiddenReadLabel: 'Read the message',
+    ariaLabelMsg: 'Aria Label Msg Preview',
+    messages: [
+        {
+            id: 'message1',
+            unread: true,
+            subject: {
+                url: 'https://example.com/message/1',
+                text: 'Example message subject',
+            },
+            fromText: 'Example Sender 1',
+            dateText: 'Tue 4 Jul 2020 at 7:47',
+            body: 'An example message.',
+        },
+    ],
+};
+
+const EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WIHTOUT_BODYLABEL_PARAM = {
+    unreadText: 'New',
+    fromLabel: 'From',
+    dateLabel: 'Date',
+    hiddenReadLabel: 'Read the message',
+    messages: [
+        {
+            id: 'message1',
+            unread: true,
+            subject: {
+                url: 'https://example.com/message/1',
+                text: 'Example message subject',
+            },
+            fromText: 'Example Sender 1',
+            dateText: 'Tue 4 Jul 2020 at 7:47',
+            body: 'An example message.',
+        },
+    ],
 };
 
 describe('macro: message-list', () => {
@@ -97,22 +133,39 @@ describe('macro: message-list', () => {
         expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--date:first').text().trim()).toBe('Date:');
     });
 
-    it('has visually hidden label `bodyLabel`', () => {
+    it('has visually hidden label `hiddenReadLabel`', () => {
         const $ = cheerio.load(renderComponent('message-list', EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_MINIMAL));
 
-        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toBe('Body:');
+        expect($('.ons-message-item__link:first').text()).toContain('Read the message: ');
     });
 
-    it('has visually hidden label `hiddenReadLabel`', () => {
+    it('has visually hidden label `bodyLabel` when only `bodyLabel` is provided`', () => {
         const $ = cheerio.load(renderComponent('message-list', EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_MINIMAL));
 
-        expect($('.ons-message-item__link:first').text()).toContain('Read the message: ');
+        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toBe('Body:');
+    });
+
+    it('has visually hidden label `bodyLabel` when both `bodyLabel` and `ariaLabelMsg` are provided`', () => {
+        const $ = cheerio.load(
+            renderComponent('message-list', {
+                ...EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_MINIMAL,
+                ariaLabelMsg: 'Aria Label Msg Preview',
+            }),
+        );
+
+        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toBe('Body:');
+    });
+
+    it('has visually hidden deprecated label `ariaLabelMsg` when only `ariaLabelMsg` is provided', () => {
+        const $ = cheerio.load(renderComponent('message-list', EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WITH_DEPRECATED_ARIALABELMSG_PARAM));
+
+        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toBe('Aria Label Msg Preview:');
     });
 
-    it('has visually hidden deprecated label `ariaLabelMsg`', () => {
-        const $ = cheerio.load(renderComponent('message-list', EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WITH_DEPRECATED_ariaLabelMsg_PARAM));
+    it('has the defualt text for visually hidden label `bodyLabel` when both `bodyLabel` and `ariaLabelMsg` are not provided', () => {
+        const $ = cheerio.load(renderComponent('message-list', EXAMPLE_MESSAGE_LIST_WIHTOUT_BODYLABEL_PARAM));
 
-        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toContain('Message Preview:');
+        expect($('.ons-message-item__metadata-term--body:first').text().trim()).toBe('Message text:');
     });
 
     it('has message as expected', () => {
diff --git a/src/patterns/send-and-reply-to-messages/example-message-list.njk b/src/patterns/send-and-reply-to-messages/example-message-list.njk
index ffa270d7a9..6cba89d1a2 100644
--- a/src/patterns/send-and-reply-to-messages/example-message-list.njk
+++ b/src/patterns/send-and-reply-to-messages/example-message-list.njk
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
         "fromLabel": "From",
         "dateLabel": "Sent",
         "hiddenReadLabel": "Read the message",
-        "bodyLabel": 'Message Preview',
         "ariaLabelMetaData": "Message information",
         "messages": [
             {