diff --git a/apps/cli/package.json b/apps/cli/package.json
index 70cd747..489f12c 100644
--- a/apps/cli/package.json
+++ b/apps/cli/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "claudemesh-cli",
-  "version": "0.1.13",
+  "version": "0.1.14",
   "description": "Claude Code MCP client for claudemesh — peer mesh messaging between Claude sessions.",
   "keywords": [
     "claude-code",
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/commands/launch.ts b/apps/cli/src/commands/launch.ts
index 211d3d9..e5d233d 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/commands/launch.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/commands/launch.ts
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ export async function runLaunch(extraArgs: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const sessionConfig: Config = {
     version: 1,
     meshes: [mesh],
+    displayName,
   };
   writeFileSync(
     join(tmpDir, "config.json"),
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/state/config.ts b/apps/cli/src/state/config.ts
index 8defe9f..6d3f4c6 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/state/config.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/state/config.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export interface JoinedMesh {
 export interface Config {
   version: 1;
   meshes: JoinedMesh[];
+  displayName?: string; // per-session override, written by `claudemesh launch --name`
 }
 
 const CONFIG_DIR = env.CLAUDEMESH_CONFIG_DIR ?? join(homedir(), ".claudemesh");
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ export function loadConfig(): Config {
     if (!parsed || !Array.isArray(parsed.meshes)) {
       return { version: 1, meshes: [] };
     }
-    return { version: 1, meshes: parsed.meshes };
+    return { version: 1, meshes: parsed.meshes, displayName: parsed.displayName };
   } catch (e) {
     throw new Error(
       `Failed to load ${CONFIG_PATH}: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)}`,
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/ws/client.ts b/apps/cli/src/ws/client.ts
index 10ab5ab..971bbdd 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/ws/client.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/ws/client.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ export class BrokerClient {
     private mesh: JoinedMesh,
     private opts: {
       onStatusChange?: (status: ConnStatus) => void;
+      displayName?: string;
       debug?: boolean;
     } = {},
   ) {}
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ export class BrokerClient {
               memberId: this.mesh.memberId,
               pubkey: this.mesh.pubkey,
               sessionPubkey: this.sessionPubkey,
-              displayName: process.env.CLAUDEMESH_DISPLAY_NAME || undefined,
+              displayName: process.env.CLAUDEMESH_DISPLAY_NAME || this.opts.displayName || undefined,
               sessionId: `${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`,
               pid: process.pid,
               cwd: process.cwd(),
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/ws/manager.ts b/apps/cli/src/ws/manager.ts
index bc689a1..eb2ed11 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/ws/manager.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/ws/manager.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@ import type { Config, JoinedMesh } from "../state/config";
 import { env } from "../env";
 
 const clients = new Map<string, BrokerClient>();
+let configDisplayName: string | undefined;
 
 /** Ensure a BrokerClient exists + is connecting/open for this mesh. */
 export async function ensureClient(mesh: JoinedMesh): Promise<BrokerClient> {
   const existing = clients.get(mesh.meshId);
   if (existing) return existing;
-  const client = new BrokerClient(mesh, { debug: env.CLAUDEMESH_DEBUG });
+  const client = new BrokerClient(mesh, { debug: env.CLAUDEMESH_DEBUG, displayName: configDisplayName });
   clients.set(mesh.meshId, client);
   try {
     await client.connect();
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ export async function ensureClient(mesh: JoinedMesh): Promise<BrokerClient> {
 
 /** Start clients for every joined mesh. Called once on MCP server start. */
 export async function startClients(config: Config): Promise<void> {
+  configDisplayName = config.displayName;
   await Promise.allSettled(config.meshes.map(ensureClient));
 }