diff --git a/handle_signup.go b/handle_signup.go
index 31c796b..2373e9c 100644
--- a/handle_signup.go
+++ b/handle_signup.go
@@ -69,11 +69,7 @@ func (app *App) handlePublicSignup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	// Find or create participant by email.
-	name := body.PreferredName
-	if body.TicketName != "" {
-		name = body.TicketName
-	}
-	participant, _, err := app.upsertParticipant(body.Email, name)
+	participant, _, err := app.upsertParticipant(body.Email, body.PreferredName)
 	if err != nil {
 		writeError(w, "internal error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
@@ -166,8 +162,13 @@ func (app *App) handleConfirmEmail(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			if len(tickets) > 0 {
 				ticketID = tickets[0].ID
 			} else {
+				tkName := vol.TicketName
+				if tkName == "" {
+					tkName = vol.PreferredName
+				}
 				stub, err := app.createTicket(Ticket{
 					ParticipantID: vol.ParticipantID,
+					Name:          tkName,
 					Source:        "manual",
 				})
 				if err == nil {
@@ -228,8 +229,13 @@ func (app *App) openShiftSignups() {
 		if len(tickets) > 0 {
 			ticketID = tickets[0].ID
 		} else {
+			tkName := v.TicketName
+			if tkName == "" {
+				tkName = v.PreferredName
+			}
 			stub, err := app.createTicket(Ticket{
 				ParticipantID: v.ParticipantID,
+				Name:          tkName,
 				Source:        "manual",
 			})
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/handle_signup_test.go b/handle_signup_test.go
index a9bdab0..86bcfe5 100644
--- a/handle_signup_test.go
+++ b/handle_signup_test.go
@@ -315,6 +315,108 @@ func TestConfirmEmailWithSignupsOpen(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPublicSignupTicketNameDoesNotOverwritePreferredName(t *testing.T) {
+	app := testApp(t)
+	mux := testMux(app)
+
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	mux.ServeHTTP(w, testRequest("POST", "/api/public/signup", map[string]any{
+		"preferred_name": "Titania",
+		"ticket_name":    "Titania Fairweather",
+		"email":          "titania@example.com",
+	}))
+	if w.Code != 200 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d: %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+
+	vol, _ := app.getVolunteerByEmail("titania@example.com")
+	if vol == nil || vol.ParticipantID == nil {
+		t.Fatal("volunteer/participant not created")
+	}
+	p, _ := app.getParticipant(*vol.ParticipantID)
+	if p == nil {
+		t.Fatal("participant not found")
+	}
+	if p.PreferredName != "Titania" {
+		t.Errorf("participant preferred_name = %q, want %q (not ticket_name)", p.PreferredName, "Titania")
+	}
+	if vol.TicketName != "Titania Fairweather" {
+		t.Errorf("vol.TicketName = %q, want %q", vol.TicketName, "Titania Fairweather")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConfirmEmailStubTicketHasName(t *testing.T) {
+	app := testApp(t)
+	mux := testMux(app)
+
+	app.db.Exec(`INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('shift_signups_open', 'true')`)
+	app.baseURL = "https://example.com"
+
+	// Volunteer with a ticket_name but no pre-existing ticket
+	participant, _ := app.createParticipant(Participant{PreferredName: "Titania", Email: "titania@example.com"})
+	token := "abc123def456"
+	app.createVolunteer(Volunteer{
+		Name:              "Titania",
+		PreferredName:     "Titania",
+		TicketName:        "Titania Fairweather",
+		Email:             "titania@example.com",
+		ParticipantID:     &participant.ID,
+		ConfirmationToken: &token,
+	})
+
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	mux.ServeHTTP(w, testRequest("POST", "/api/public/confirm", map[string]any{"token": token}))
+	if w.Code != 200 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", w.Code)
+	}
+	result := parseJSON(t, w)
+	if result["status"] != "confirmed" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected confirmed, got %v", result["status"])
+	}
+
+	// Stub ticket should have been created with TicketName as its name
+	tickets, _ := app.listTickets(&participant.ID, "")
+	if len(tickets) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected stub ticket to be created")
+	}
+	if tickets[0].Name != "Titania Fairweather" {
+		t.Errorf("stub ticket name = %q, want %q", tickets[0].Name, "Titania Fairweather")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConfirmEmailStubTicketFallsBackToPreferredName(t *testing.T) {
+	app := testApp(t)
+	mux := testMux(app)
+
+	app.db.Exec(`INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('shift_signups_open', 'true')`)
+	app.baseURL = "https://example.com"
+
+	// Volunteer with no ticket_name — stub should use preferred_name
+	participant, _ := app.createParticipant(Participant{PreferredName: "Titania", Email: "titania@example.com"})
+	token := "abc123def456"
+	app.createVolunteer(Volunteer{
+		Name:              "Titania",
+		PreferredName:     "Titania",
+		Email:             "titania@example.com",
+		ParticipantID:     &participant.ID,
+		ConfirmationToken: &token,
+	})
+
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	mux.ServeHTTP(w, testRequest("POST", "/api/public/confirm", map[string]any{"token": token}))
+	if w.Code != 200 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", w.Code)
+	}
+
+	tickets, _ := app.listTickets(&participant.ID, "")
+	if len(tickets) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected stub ticket to be created")
+	}
+	if tickets[0].Name != "Titania" {
+		t.Errorf("stub ticket name = %q, want %q (preferred_name fallback)", tickets[0].Name, "Titania")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestToggleShiftSignups(t *testing.T) {
 	app := testApp(t)
 	mux := testMux(app)