diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-connect.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-connect.test.tsx
index c16cc7dec6..b4b2c3ec5e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-connect.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-connect.test.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ vi.mock('@/store/profile', () => ({
   $profileScope: atom('default'),
   ALL_PROFILES: '*',
   normalizeProfileKey: (name: string) => name,
+  profileLabel: (profile: { display_name?: string; name: string }) => (profile.display_name ?? '').trim() || profile.name,
   refreshActiveProfile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   selectProfile: vi.fn(),
   setProfileColor: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
index 95f73cebc0..4a98d23cbb 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
   $profileScope,
   ALL_PROFILES,
   normalizeProfileKey,
+  profileLabel,
   refreshActiveProfile,
   selectProfile,
   setProfileColor,
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
           <ProfilePill
             active={isAll || onDefault}
             glyph={isAll ? 'layers' : 'home'}
-            label={onDefault ? p.showAllProfiles : p.switchToProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
+            label={onDefault ? p.showAllProfiles : p.switchToProfile(profileLabel(defaultProfile))}
             onSelect={() => (onDefault ? setShowAllProfiles(true) : selectProfile(defaultProfile.name))}
           />
         ) : (
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
         <ProfilePill
           active
           glyph="home"
-          label={defaultProfile.name}
+          label={profileLabel(defaultProfile)}
           onSelect={() => selectProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
         />
       )}
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
                       active={!isAll && normalizeProfileKey(profile.name) === activeKey}
                       color={resolveProfileColor(profile.name, colors)}
                       key={profile.name}
-                      label={profile.name}
+                      label={profileLabel(profile)}
                       onDelete={() => setPendingDelete(profile)}
                       onEditSoul={() => setPendingSoul(profile.name)}
                       onRecolor={color => setProfileColor(profile.name, color)}
@@ -345,6 +346,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
 
       <RenameProfileDialog
         currentName={pendingRename?.name ?? ''}
+        isDefault={pendingRename?.is_default ?? false}
         onClose={() => setPendingRename(null)}
         onRenamed={refreshActiveProfile}
         open={pendingRename !== null}
@@ -502,6 +504,7 @@ function ProfileDropdown({
           <ProfileDropdownItem
             color={resolveProfileColor(profile.name, colors)}
             key={profile.name}
+            label={profileLabel(profile)}
             name={profile.name}
           />
         ))}
@@ -512,14 +515,14 @@ function ProfileDropdown({
 
 // One dropdown row per profile — its own component so each row can own a
 // hover-intent prewarm timer (see useProfilePrewarm).
-function ProfileDropdownItem({ color, name }: { color: null | string; name: string }) {
+function ProfileDropdownItem({ color, label, name }: { color: null | string; label: string; name: string }) {
   const { cancelPrewarm, startPrewarm } = useProfilePrewarm(name)
 
   return (
     <SelectItem onPointerEnter={startPrewarm} onPointerLeave={cancelPrewarm} value={name}>
       <span className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5">
         <ProfileGlyph aria-hidden="true" color={color} isDefault={false} name={name} />
-        <span className="truncate">{name}</span>
+        <span className="truncate">{label}</span>
       </span>
     </SelectItem>
   )
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.test.tsx
index a87da7486b..b9dc87234f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.test.tsx
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ vi.mock('@/store/profile', () => ({
   $activeGatewayProfile: activeGateway,
   $profileColors,
   normalizeProfileKey: (name: null | string | undefined) => (name ?? '').trim() || 'default',
+  profileLabel: (profile: { display_name?: string; name: string }) => (profile.display_name ?? '').trim() || profile.name,
   refreshProfiles: vi.fn(async () => [] as ProfileInfo[]),
   selectProfile: vi.fn(),
   setActiveProfile: vi.fn()
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.tsx
index a27cb261a9..af654e9d20 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { AlertTriangle, Save } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { resolveProfileColor } from '@/lib/profile-color'
 import { normalize } from '@/lib/text'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
-import { $profileColors, refreshProfiles } from '@/store/profile'
+import { $profileColors, profileLabel, refreshProfiles } from '@/store/profile'
 
 import { useRefreshHotkey } from '../hooks/use-refresh-hotkey'
 import {
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
                   key={profile.name}
                   menuItems={
                     profile.is_default
-                      ? []
+                      ? // Renaming the default profile sets a presentation-only
+                        // display name (the canonical id stays "default").
+                        [{ icon: 'edit', label: p.renameMenu, onSelect: () => setPendingRename(profile) }]
                       : [
                           { icon: 'edit', label: p.renameMenu, onSelect: () => setPendingRename(profile) },
                           {
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
 
       <RenameProfileDialog
         currentName={pendingRename?.name ?? ''}
+        isDefault={pendingRename?.is_default ?? false}
         onClose={() => setPendingRename(null)}
         onRenamed={selectAndRefresh}
         open={pendingRename !== null}
@@ -212,10 +215,10 @@ function ProfileRow({
         />
       }
       menuItems={menuItems}
-      menuLabel={profile.name}
+      menuLabel={profileLabel(profile)}
       onSelect={onSelect}
       rowKey={profile.name}
-      title={profile.name}
+      title={profileLabel(profile)}
     />
   )
 }
@@ -229,7 +232,7 @@ function ProfileDetail({ profile }: { profile: ProfileInfo }) {
       <header className="space-y-3">
         <div className="min-w-0">
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-            <h3 className="text-[0.95rem] font-semibold tracking-tight text-foreground">{profile.name}</h3>
+            <h3 className="text-[0.95rem] font-semibold tracking-tight text-foreground">{profileLabel(profile)}</h3>
             {profile.is_default && <PanelPill tone="good">{p.defaultBadge}</PanelPill>}
             {profile.has_env && <PanelPill tone="muted">.env</PanelPill>}
           </div>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/rename-profile-dialog.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/rename-profile-dialog.tsx
index c6cb6f83e3..9cb72359f1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/rename-profile-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/rename-profile-dialog.tsx
@@ -20,15 +20,22 @@ import { retireLocalProfileGateways } from '@/store/gateway'
 
 import { isValidProfileName } from './create-profile-dialog'
 
+// Display names are free text (Unicode fine) — no slug sanitizing.
+const identity = (raw: string) => raw
+
 // Self-contained rename (owns the renameProfile call) so every caller just
 // reacts via onRenamed. Unchanged name is a no-op close.
 export function RenameProfileDialog({
   currentName,
+  isDefault = false,
   onClose,
   onRenamed,
   open
 }: {
   currentName: string
+  /** Default profile: sets a presentation-only display name (Unicode ok);
+   *  the canonical id stays "default" and no backend teardown is needed. */
+  isDefault?: boolean
   onClose: () => void
   onRenamed?: (name: string) => Promise<void> | void
   open: boolean
@@ -44,14 +51,15 @@ export function RenameProfileDialog({
       return
     }
 
-    setName(currentName)
+    // Display-name mode starts blank — "default" is the id, not a name.
+    setName(isDefault ? '' : currentName)
     setError(null)
     setStatus('idle')
-  }, [currentName, open])
+  }, [currentName, isDefault, open])
 
   const trimmed = name.trim()
-  const unchanged = trimmed === currentName
-  const invalid = trimmed !== '' && !unchanged && !isValidProfileName(trimmed)
+  const unchanged = !isDefault && trimmed === currentName
+  const invalid = trimmed !== '' && !unchanged && !isDefault && !isValidProfileName(trimmed)
   const busy = status === 'saving' || status === 'done'
 
   async function handleSubmit(event: React.FormEvent) {
@@ -77,7 +85,10 @@ export function RenameProfileDialog({
       // backend teardown as a transient drop and redial, resurrecting the
       // old-name backend whose ensure_hermes_home() recreates the directory
       // the rename just moved (same class as the delete path, #88638).
-      retireLocalProfileGateways(currentName)
+      if (!isDefault) {
+        retireLocalProfileGateways(currentName)
+      }
+
       await renameProfile(currentName, trimmed)
       await onRenamed?.(trimmed)
       setStatus('done')
@@ -92,25 +103,31 @@ export function RenameProfileDialog({
     <Dialog onOpenChange={value => !value && !busy && onClose()} open={open}>
       <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
         <DialogHeader>
-          <DialogTitle>{p.renameTitle}</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogTitle>{isDefault ? p.displayNameTitle : p.renameTitle}</DialogTitle>
           <DialogDescription>
-            {p.renameDescPrefix}
-            <span className="font-mono">~/.local/bin</span>
-            {p.renameDescSuffix}
+            {isDefault ? (
+              p.displayNameDesc
+            ) : (
+              <>
+                {p.renameDescPrefix}
+                <span className="font-mono">~/.local/bin</span>
+                {p.renameDescSuffix}
+              </>
+            )}
           </DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
 
         <form className="grid gap-4" onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
-          <Field htmlFor="rename-profile-name" label={p.newNameLabel}>
+          <Field htmlFor="rename-profile-name" label={isDefault ? p.displayNameLabel : p.newNameLabel}>
             <SanitizedInput
               aria-invalid={invalid}
               autoFocus
               id="rename-profile-name"
               onValueChange={setName}
-              sanitize={slug}
+              sanitize={isDefault ? identity : slug}
               value={name}
             />
-            <FieldHint error={invalid}>{p.nameHint}</FieldHint>
+            {!isDefault && <FieldHint error={invalid}>{p.nameHint}</FieldHint>}
           </Field>
 
           {error && (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
index 81df9663f1..32567ffd68 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -1774,6 +1774,9 @@ export const en: Translations = {
     renameTitle: 'Rename profile',
     renameDescPrefix: 'Renaming updates the profile directory and any wrapper scripts in ',
     renameDescSuffix: '.',
+    displayNameTitle: 'Name this agent',
+    displayNameDesc: 'Sets a display name shown across the app. The internal profile ID stays "default".',
+    displayNameLabel: 'Display name',
     newNameLabel: 'New name',
     renaming: 'Renaming...',
     created: 'Profile created',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
index 053c1f0599..48d57b6cc1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -1499,6 +1499,9 @@ export interface Translations {
     creating: string
     createAction: string
     renameTitle: string
+    displayNameTitle: string
+    displayNameDesc: string
+    displayNameLabel: string
     renameDescPrefix: string
     renameDescSuffix: string
     newNameLabel: string
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
index 70d2582aaa..9b977df494 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -1959,6 +1959,9 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
     creating: '创建中…',
     createAction: '创建配置档案',
     renameTitle: '重命名配置档案',
+    displayNameTitle: '为智能体命名',
+    displayNameDesc: '设置一个在整个应用中显示的名称。内部配置档案 ID 仍为 "default"。',
+    displayNameLabel: '显示名称',
     renameDescPrefix: '重命名会更新配置档案目录以及 ',
     renameDescSuffix: ' 中的所有包装脚本。',
     newNameLabel: '新名称',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
index e8dbc52250..8c2cfca413 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
@@ -3103,6 +3103,13 @@ function displayName(bot, meta) {
     return meta.title.trim()
   }
 
+  // Core-profile display name (profile.yaml, set via `hermes profile rename
+  // default <name>` or the dashboard) — the CLI-level equivalent of a Bot
+  // Mode title. Rides the profiles.list row; presentation-only.
+  if (typeof bot?.display_name === 'string' && bot.display_name.trim()) {
+    return bot.display_name.trim()
+  }
+
   // The primary profile is literally named "default" — as a bot identity
   // that reads like nobody bothered. Present it as Hermes (the agent it is)
   // unless the user gives it a real title.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/profile.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/profile.ts
index 99fd3dd705..2e67f54cd2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/profile.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/profile.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ export function normalizeProfileKey(name: string | null | undefined): string {
   return value || 'default'
 }
 
+// Presentation-only label: the display_name from profile.yaml when set (e.g. a
+// renamed default profile), else the canonical name. Never used for
+// comparison or routing — canonical `name` remains the identity everywhere.
+export function profileLabel(profile: Pick<ProfileInfo, 'display_name' | 'name'>): string {
+  return (profile.display_name ?? '').trim() || profile.name
+}
+
 // The profile the running local backend is actually scoped to (mirrors
 // /api/profiles/active `current`). "default" is the root ~/.hermes. This is the
 // display source of truth for the statusbar pill; the desktop's *stored*
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/types/hermes.ts b/apps/desktop/src/types/hermes.ts
index c180cb08a5..ce407ddc49 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/types/hermes.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/types/hermes.ts
@@ -920,6 +920,8 @@ export interface ProfileCreatePayload {
 }
 
 export interface ProfileInfo {
+  /** Presentation-only label override (profile.yaml display_name). */
+  display_name?: string
   has_env: boolean
   is_default: boolean
   model: null | string
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 1e8a83b18c..c2556b0049 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -10068,31 +10068,47 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
 
     if action is None:
         # Bare `hermes profile` — show current profile status
+        from hermes_cli.profiles import format_profile_label
+
         profile_name = get_active_profile_name()
         dhh = display_hermes_home()
-        print(f"\nActive profile: {profile_name}")
-        print(f"Path:           {dhh}")
 
         profiles = list_profiles()
-        for p in profiles:
-            if p.name == profile_name or (profile_name == "default" and p.is_default):
-                if p.model:
-                    print(
-                        f"Model:          {p.model}"
-                        + (f" ({p.provider})" if p.provider else "")
-                    )
+        current = next(
+            (
+                p
+                for p in profiles
+                if p.name == profile_name
+                or (profile_name == "default" and p.is_default)
+            ),
+            None,
+        )
+        label = format_profile_label(
+            profile_name, current.display_name if current else ""
+        )
+        print(f"\nActive profile: {label}")
+        print(f"Path:           {dhh}")
+
+        if current is not None:
+            p = current
+            if p.model:
                 print(
-                    f"Gateway:        {'running' if p.gateway_running else 'stopped'}"
+                    f"Model:          {p.model}"
+                    + (f" ({p.provider})" if p.provider else "")
                 )
-                print(f"Skills:         {p.skill_count} installed")
-                if p.alias_path:
-                    alias_display = p.alias_name or p.name
-                    print(f"Alias:          {alias_display} → hermes -p {p.name}")
-                break
+            print(
+                f"Gateway:        {'running' if p.gateway_running else 'stopped'}"
+            )
+            print(f"Skills:         {p.skill_count} installed")
+            if p.alias_path:
+                alias_display = p.alias_name or p.name
+                print(f"Alias:          {alias_display} → hermes -p {p.name}")
         print()
         return
 
     if action == "list":
+        from hermes_cli.profiles import format_profile_label
+
         profiles = list_profiles()
         active = get_active_profile_name()
 
@@ -10116,7 +10132,7 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
                 if (p.name == active or (active == "default" and p.is_default))
                 else "  "
             )
-            name = p.name
+            name = format_profile_label(p.name, p.display_name)
             model = (p.model or "—")[:26]
             gw = "running" if p.gateway_running else "stopped"
             alias = (p.alias_name or p.name) if p.alias_path else "—"
@@ -10375,6 +10391,8 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
             _read_distribution_meta,
             _get_wrapper_dir,
             find_alias_for_profile,
+            format_profile_label,
+            read_profile_meta,
         )
 
         if not profile_exists(name):
@@ -10386,8 +10404,9 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
         skills = _count_skills(profile_dir)
         dist_name, dist_version, dist_source = _read_distribution_meta(profile_dir)
         alias_name = find_alias_for_profile(name)
+        display = read_profile_meta(profile_dir).get("display_name", "")
 
-        print(f"\nProfile: {name}")
+        print(f"\nProfile: {format_profile_label(name, display)}")
         print(f"Path:    {profile_dir}")
         if model:
             print(f"Model:   {model}" + (f" ({provider})" if provider else ""))
@@ -10448,12 +10467,13 @@ def cmd_profile(args):
                     print(f"⚠ {_get_wrapper_dir()} is not in your PATH.")
 
     elif action == "rename":
-        from hermes_cli.profiles import rename_profile
+        from hermes_cli.profiles import normalize_profile_name, rename_profile
 
         try:
             new_dir = rename_profile(args.old_name, args.new_name)
-            print(f"\nProfile renamed: {args.old_name} → {args.new_name}")
-            print(f"Path: {new_dir}\n")
+            if normalize_profile_name(args.old_name) != "default":
+                print(f"\nProfile renamed: {args.old_name} → {args.new_name}")
+                print(f"Path: {new_dir}\n")
         except (ValueError, FileExistsError, FileNotFoundError) as e:
             print(f"Error: {e}")
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
index ad52b7b865..f6e3c79f30 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
@@ -657,6 +657,9 @@ class ProfileInfo:
     # surfaces a "review" badge in this case so the user can edit or
     # accept.
     description_auto: bool = False
+    # Optional user-facing display name from profile.yaml. Presentation
+    # only — resolution/comparison/spawn paths always use ``name``.
+    display_name: str = ""
 
 
 def _read_distribution_meta(profile_dir: Path) -> tuple:
@@ -823,25 +826,27 @@ def _profile_yaml_path(profile_dir: Path) -> Path:
 def read_profile_meta(profile_dir: Path) -> dict:
     """Read ``<profile_dir>/profile.yaml`` and return a dict.
 
-    Returns ``{"description": "", "description_auto": False}`` when the
-    file is missing or unreadable. Never raises — a corrupt
-    profile.yaml on an unrelated profile must not break
-    ``hermes profile list``.
+    Returns ``{"description": "", "description_auto": False,
+    "display_name": ""}`` when the file is missing or unreadable. Never
+    raises — a corrupt profile.yaml on an unrelated profile must not
+    break ``hermes profile list``.
     """
+    empty = {"description": "", "description_auto": False, "display_name": ""}
     path = _profile_yaml_path(profile_dir)
     if not path.is_file():
-        return {"description": "", "description_auto": False}
+        return empty
     try:
         import yaml
         with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             data = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
     except Exception:
-        return {"description": "", "description_auto": False}
+        return empty
     if not isinstance(data, dict):
-        return {"description": "", "description_auto": False}
+        return empty
     return {
         "description": str(data.get("description") or "").strip(),
         "description_auto": bool(data.get("description_auto", False)),
+        "display_name": str(data.get("display_name") or "").strip(),
     }
 
 
@@ -850,6 +855,7 @@ def write_profile_meta(
     *,
     description: Optional[str] = None,
     description_auto: Optional[bool] = None,
+    display_name: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> None:
     """Update ``<profile_dir>/profile.yaml`` in place.
 
@@ -874,6 +880,12 @@ def write_profile_meta(
         existing["description"] = description.strip()
     if description_auto is not None:
         existing["description_auto"] = bool(description_auto)
+    if display_name is not None:
+        # Empty string clears the key (falls back to the canonical id).
+        if display_name.strip():
+            existing["display_name"] = display_name.strip()
+        else:
+            existing.pop("display_name", None)
     # Atomic write: bare open("w") truncates before the dump, and the read
     # path above swallows parse errors as {}, so a crashed write would
     # silently drop unspecified fields on the next call (#51356, #16743).
@@ -882,6 +894,36 @@ def write_profile_meta(
     atomic_yaml_write(path, existing, sort_keys=False)
 
 
+def format_profile_label(name: str, display_name: Optional[str]) -> str:
+    """Render a profile for display: ``display_name (canonical_id)``.
+
+    Falls back to the bare canonical id when no display name is set (or it
+    equals the id) — byte-for-byte the pre-feature rendering. Display names
+    are presentation-only free text (Unicode fine); they are never a
+    directory name, wrapper filename, or argv token.
+    """
+    dn = (display_name or "").strip()
+    return f"{dn} ({name})" if dn and dn != name else name
+
+
+def set_profile_display_name(profile_name: str, display_name: str) -> str:
+    """Set (or clear, with ``""``) a profile's user-facing display name.
+
+    Presentation-only: the canonical profile id is untouched. Returns the
+    stored value. Raises ``ValueError`` for names over 64 chars.
+    """
+    canon = normalize_profile_name(profile_name)
+    validate_profile_name(canon)
+    profile_dir = get_profile_dir(canon)
+    if not profile_dir.is_dir():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Profile '{canon}' does not exist.")
+    cleaned = (display_name or "").strip()
+    if len(cleaned) > 64:
+        raise ValueError(f"Display name too long ({len(cleaned)} chars, max 64).")
+    write_profile_meta(profile_dir, display_name=cleaned)
+    return cleaned
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # CRUD operations
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -911,6 +953,7 @@ def list_profiles() -> List[ProfileInfo]:
             distribution_source=dist_source,
             description=meta.get("description", ""),
             description_auto=meta.get("description_auto", False),
+            display_name=meta.get("display_name", ""),
         ))
 
     # Named profiles
@@ -953,6 +996,7 @@ def list_profiles() -> List[ProfileInfo]:
                 distribution_source=dist_source,
                 description=meta.get("description", ""),
                 description_auto=meta.get("description_auto", False),
+                display_name=meta.get("display_name", ""),
             ))
 
     return profiles
@@ -2344,15 +2388,26 @@ def _migrate_honcho_profile_host(old_name: str, new_name: str, new_dir: Path) ->
 def rename_profile(old_name: str, new_name: str) -> Path:
     """Rename a profile: directory, wrapper script, service, active_profile.
 
-    Returns the new profile directory.
+    The default profile's home IS the installation root, so "renaming" it
+    sets a presentation-only ``display_name`` in profile.yaml instead —
+    the canonical id stays ``default`` and every resolution path is
+    untouched.
+
+    Returns the (new) profile directory.
     """
     old_canon = normalize_profile_name(old_name)
-    new_canon = normalize_profile_name(new_name)
     validate_profile_name(old_canon)
-    validate_profile_name(new_canon)
 
     if old_canon == "default":
-        raise ValueError("Cannot rename the default profile.")
+        if not (new_name or "").strip():
+            raise ValueError("Display name cannot be empty.")
+        cleaned = set_profile_display_name("default", new_name)
+        print(f"✓ Display name set: {cleaned} (canonical id remains 'default')")
+        return _get_default_hermes_home()
+
+    new_canon = normalize_profile_name(new_name)
+    validate_profile_name(new_canon)
+
     if new_canon == "default":
         raise ValueError("Cannot rename to 'default' — it is reserved.")
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/slash_exec.py b/hermes_cli/slash_exec.py
index 85c49bb8e2..38b31f3c30 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/slash_exec.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/slash_exec.py
@@ -100,8 +100,23 @@ def _exec_profile(ctx: CommandContext) -> CommandReply:
 
         home_display = display_hermes_home()
 
+    # Presentation-only display name (profile.yaml). `data.profile` stays
+    # the canonical id — consumers route on it; only the text gets the label.
+    label = profile_name
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.profiles import (
+            format_profile_label,
+            get_profile_dir,
+            read_profile_meta,
+        )
+
+        display = read_profile_meta(get_profile_dir(profile_name)).get("display_name", "")
+        label = format_profile_label(profile_name, display)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
     return CommandReply(
-        f"Profile: {profile_name}\nHome: {home_display}",
+        f"Profile: {label}\nHome: {home_display}",
         data={"profile": profile_name, "home": home_display},
     )
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/subcommands/profile.py b/hermes_cli/subcommands/profile.py
index d812fadf97..abcc53cd41 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/subcommands/profile.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/subcommands/profile.py
@@ -120,9 +120,15 @@ def build_profile_parser(subparsers, *, cmd_profile: Callable) -> None:
         help="Custom alias name (default: profile name)",
     )
 
-    profile_rename = profile_subparsers.add_parser("rename", help="Rename a profile")
+    profile_rename = profile_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "rename",
+        help="Rename a profile ('default': sets a display name; id unchanged)",
+    )
     profile_rename.add_argument("old_name", help="Current profile name")
-    profile_rename.add_argument("new_name", help="New profile name")
+    profile_rename.add_argument(
+        "new_name",
+        help="New profile name (for 'default': a display name — the canonical id stays 'default')",
+    )
 
     profile_export = profile_subparsers.add_parser(
         "export", help="Export a profile to archive"
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_routers/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/web_routers/profiles.py
index 4d44e9e366..77ff1ad50a 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_routers/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_routers/profiles.py
@@ -1010,7 +1010,25 @@ async def rename_profile_endpoint(name: str, body: ProfileRename):
     except Exception as e:
         _log.exception("PATCH /api/profiles/%s failed", name)
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=str(e))
-    return {"ok": True, "name": body.new_name, "path": str(path)}
+    # For the default profile the rename lands as a presentation-only
+    # display_name; the canonical id ("default") is unchanged. Always
+    # return the canonical id so callers keying on `name` stay correct.
+    try:
+        is_default = profiles_mod.normalize_profile_name(name) == "default"
+    except ValueError:
+        is_default = False
+    if is_default:
+        return {
+            "ok": True,
+            "name": "default",
+            "display_name": body.new_name.strip(),
+            "path": str(path),
+        }
+    return {
+        "ok": True,
+        "name": profiles_mod.normalize_profile_name(body.new_name),
+        "path": str(path),
+    }
 
 
 @router.delete("/api/profiles/{name}")
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index d5693c72fc..edc62c8c52 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -14476,6 +14476,7 @@ def _profile_to_dict(info) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         "gateway_running": bool(_profile_attr(info, "gateway_running", False)),
         "description": _profile_attr(info, "description", "") or "",
         "description_auto": bool(_profile_attr(info, "description_auto", False)),
+        "display_name": _profile_attr(info, "display_name", "") or "",
         "distribution_name": _profile_attr(info, "distribution_name"),
         "distribution_version": _profile_attr(info, "distribution_version"),
         "distribution_source": _profile_attr(info, "distribution_source"),
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_profile_display_name.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_profile_display_name.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..27dbd6e77c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_profile_display_name.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+"""Profile display_name (#45624): presentation-only label in profile.yaml.
+
+The canonical profile id ("default" for ~/.hermes) is never touched —
+resolution, comparison, and spawn paths must be provably unaffected.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+import yaml
+
+from hermes_cli.profiles import (
+    create_profile,
+    format_profile_label,
+    get_profile_dir,
+    list_profiles,
+    profile_exists,
+    read_profile_meta,
+    rename_profile,
+    resolve_profile_env,
+    set_profile_display_name,
+    write_profile_meta,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def profile_env(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Isolated environment: Path.home() and HERMES_HOME under tmp_path."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    default_home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    default_home.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(default_home))
+    return default_home
+
+
+class TestMetaAndValidation:
+    def test_round_trip_preserves_other_fields(self, profile_env):
+        write_profile_meta(profile_env, description="ops agent")
+        write_profile_meta(profile_env, display_name="小助手")
+        meta = read_profile_meta(profile_env)
+        assert meta["display_name"] == "小助手"
+        assert meta["description"] == "ops agent"
+
+    def test_missing_file_defaults_empty(self, profile_env):
+        assert read_profile_meta(profile_env)["display_name"] == ""
+
+    def test_empty_clears_key_from_file(self, profile_env):
+        write_profile_meta(profile_env, display_name="Harumesu")
+        write_profile_meta(profile_env, display_name="")
+        data = yaml.safe_load((profile_env / "profile.yaml").read_text())
+        assert "display_name" not in data
+
+    def test_setter_strips_and_caps_length(self, profile_env):
+        assert set_profile_display_name("default", "  Harumesu ") == "Harumesu"
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            set_profile_display_name("default", "x" * 65)
+
+    def test_setter_missing_profile_raises(self, profile_env):
+        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+            set_profile_display_name("ghost", "Boo")
+
+
+class TestFormatProfileLabel:
+    def test_shapes(self):
+        assert format_profile_label("default", "Harumesu") == "Harumesu (default)"
+        # Unset/None/id-equal → byte-for-byte the pre-feature rendering.
+        assert format_profile_label("default", "") == "default"
+        assert format_profile_label("default", None) == "default"
+        assert format_profile_label("worker", "worker") == "worker"
+
+
+class TestRenameDefault:
+    def test_sets_display_name_only(self, profile_env, capsys):
+        assert rename_profile("default", "Harumesu") == profile_env
+        assert profile_env.is_dir()  # directory untouched
+        assert read_profile_meta(profile_env)["display_name"] == "Harumesu"
+        assert "canonical id remains 'default'" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+    def test_reflected_in_list_profiles(self, profile_env):
+        rename_profile("default", "Harumesu")
+        info = next(p for p in list_profiles() if p.is_default)
+        assert info.name == "default"
+        assert info.is_default is True
+        assert info.display_name == "Harumesu"
+
+    def test_rejects_empty_and_preserves_existing(self, profile_env):
+        rename_profile("default", "Harumesu")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            rename_profile("default", "   ")
+        # Failed rename must not clear the existing display name.
+        assert read_profile_meta(profile_env)["display_name"] == "Harumesu"
+
+    def test_rename_to_default_still_reserved(self, profile_env):
+        create_profile("worker", no_alias=True)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="reserved"):
+            rename_profile("worker", "default")
+
+    def test_named_rename_still_real_and_keeps_display_name(
+        self, profile_env, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "hermes_cli.profiles.check_alias_collision", lambda name: "skip"
+        )
+        create_profile("oldname", no_alias=True)
+        write_profile_meta(get_profile_dir("oldname"), display_name="Old Friend")
+        new_dir = rename_profile("oldname", "newname")
+        assert not (profile_env / "profiles" / "oldname").is_dir()
+        assert new_dir == profile_env / "profiles" / "newname"
+        assert read_profile_meta(new_dir)["display_name"] == "Old Friend"
+
+
+class TestResolutionUnaffected:
+    def test_display_name_is_not_a_resolvable_id(self, profile_env):
+        rename_profile("default", "Harumesu")
+        assert get_profile_dir("default") == profile_env
+        assert profile_exists("default") is True
+        assert profile_exists("harumesu") is False
+        assert resolve_profile_env("default") == str(profile_env)
+        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+            resolve_profile_env("harumesu")
diff --git a/tui_gateway/methods_profiles.py b/tui_gateway/methods_profiles.py
index 29032d6dea..8352c83d54 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/methods_profiles.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/methods_profiles.py
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
                 "model": p.model,
                 "provider": p.provider,
                 "description": getattr(p, "description", "") or "",
+                "display_name": getattr(p, "display_name", "") or "",
                 "skill_count": getattr(p, "skill_count", 0) or 0,
             }
             if include_sessions:
diff --git a/web/src/lib/api.ts b/web/src/lib/api.ts
index a3dc7f5e2b..0d277ef589 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -2180,6 +2180,7 @@ export interface ProfileInfo {
   gateway_running: boolean;
   description: string;
   description_auto: boolean;
+  display_name?: string;
   distribution_name: string | null;
   distribution_version: string | null;
   distribution_source: string | null;
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
index 8c50fed333..cf39634ca2 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ export default function ProfilesPage() {
                       <div className="flex items-start gap-2">
                         <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
                           <span className="font-medium text-sm truncate">
-                            {p.name}
+                            {p.display_name?.trim() ? `${p.display_name.trim()} (${p.name})` : p.name}
                           </span>
 
                           {active && (
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/profiles.md b/website/docs/user-guide/profiles.md
index cd68f1c4b7..ae4ad7055f 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/profiles.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/profiles.md
@@ -247,6 +247,24 @@ hermes profile import coder.tar.gz   # install an archive as a new profile
 
 In chat, the same two live as `/export` and `/import` — and in the desktop app as **⌘K → Export/Import profile…**. See [Sharing a profile](#sharing-a-profile).
 
+### Naming the default profile
+
+The default profile's internal ID is always `default` — it can't be truly
+renamed because `~/.hermes` is the installation root. Renaming it instead
+sets a **display name**, which UI surfaces show in place of the bare ID:
+
+```bash
+hermes profile rename default Harumesu   # Unicode fine: 小助手
+```
+
+The display name appears in `hermes profile list`/`show`, the `/profile`
+chat command, the dashboard, and the desktop app (including the Bot Mode
+roster). It is presentation-only: `-p default`, service names, cron jobs,
+and every other reference keep using the canonical `default` ID. It is
+stored as `display_name` in `~/.hermes/profile.yaml`; remove that line to
+revert. Named profiles can carry a `display_name` too (it survives a real
+rename), but `rename` for them still renames the profile itself.
+
 ## Deleting a profile
 
 ```bash