diff --git a/components/ProfileSettings.tsx b/components/ProfileSettings.tsx
index f04b89d..c2c09d6 100644
--- a/components/ProfileSettings.tsx
+++ b/components/ProfileSettings.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useSession, signOut, updateUser } from '../lib/auth-client';
 import { validatePhoneOrEmail } from '../lib/validators';
 
 export function ProfileSettings() {
-  const { data: session } = useSession();
+  const { data: session, refetch: refetchSession } = useSession();
   const [userName, setUserName] = useState('');
   const [savingName, setSavingName] = useState(false);
   const [nameSaved, setNameSaved] = useState(false);
@@ -48,11 +48,18 @@ export function ProfileSettings() {
     setNameSaved(false);
     const trimmed = userName.trim();
     setSavingName(true);
-    const { error: err } = await updateUser({ name: trimmed });
+    const res = await fetch('/api/account/name', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      credentials: 'include',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ name: trimmed || null }),
+    });
     setSavingName(false);
-    if (err) {
-      setNameError(err.message || 'Failed to save name.');
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      const data = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
+      setNameError(data.error || 'Failed to save name.');
     } else {
+      await refetchSession();
       setNameSaved(true);
       setTimeout(() => setNameSaved(false), 3000);
     }
diff --git a/server/src/routes/account.ts b/server/src/routes/account.ts
index d4d2793..3dd2b92 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/account.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/account.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@ const uploadsDir = process.env.UPLOADS_DIR || path.join(__dirname, '../../upload
 const router = Router();
 router.use(requireAuth);
 
+// POST /api/account/name — update (or clear) the authenticated user's display name
+router.post('/name', async (req, res) => {
+  const { name } = req.body;
+  const cleanName = typeof name === 'string' && name.trim() !== '' ? name.trim() : null;
+  try {
+    await pool.query('UPDATE "user" SET name = $1 WHERE id = $2', [cleanName, req.user!.id]);
+    res.json({ name: cleanName });
+  } catch {
+    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to update name' });
+  }
+});
+
 // POST /api/account/delete
 router.post('/delete', async (req, res) => {
   const userId = req.user!.id;