diff --git a/internal/http/summoner.go b/internal/http/summoner.go
index 4e3feeb9..e633900e 100644
--- a/internal/http/summoner.go
+++ b/internal/http/summoner.go
@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@ var summoningFiles = []string{
 // fileTagRe parses <file name="SOUL.md">content</file> from LLM output.
 var fileTagRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?s)<file\s+name="([^"]+)">\s*(.*?)\s*</file>`)
 
-// identityNameRe extracts the Name field from IDENTITY.md format: - **Name:** value
-var identityNameRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^-\s*\*\*Name:\*\*\s*(.+)$`)
-
 // frontmatterTagRe parses <frontmatter>short expertise summary</frontmatter> from LLM output.
 var frontmatterTagRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?s)<frontmatter>\s*(.*?)\s*</frontmatter>`)
 
diff --git a/internal/http/summoner_utils.go b/internal/http/summoner_utils.go
index 2d2aba59..b435ca58 100644
--- a/internal/http/summoner_utils.go
+++ b/internal/http/summoner_utils.go
@@ -4,17 +4,82 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
+var identityFieldPrefixes = []string{
+	"- **Name:**",
+	"- **Creature:**",
+	"- **Purpose:**",
+	"- **Vibe:**",
+	"- **Emoji:**",
+	"- **Avatar:**",
+	"Name:",
+	"Creature:",
+	"Purpose:",
+	"Vibe:",
+	"Emoji:",
+	"Avatar:",
+}
+
 // extractIdentityName extracts the Name field from IDENTITY.md content.
-// Matches format: - **Name:** value
+// Accepts only an inline Name value and ignores markdown field spillover.
 func extractIdentityName(content string) string {
 	if content == "" {
 		return ""
 	}
-	m := identityNameRe.FindStringSubmatch(content)
-	if len(m) < 2 {
+
+	for _, rawLine := range strings.Split(content, "\n") {
+		line := strings.TrimSpace(rawLine)
+		switch {
+		case strings.HasPrefix(line, "- **Name:**"):
+			return normalizeIdentityName(strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(line, "- **Name:**")))
+		case strings.HasPrefix(line, "Name:"):
+			return normalizeIdentityName(strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(line, "Name:")))
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ""
+}
+
+func normalizeIdentityName(value string) string {
+	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if value == "" || looksLikeIdentityField(value) {
 		return ""
 	}
-	return strings.TrimSpace(m[1])
+
+	for {
+		next := trimMarkdownWrapper(value)
+		if next == value {
+			return value
+		}
+		value = strings.TrimSpace(next)
+		if value == "" || looksLikeIdentityField(value) {
+			return ""
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func looksLikeIdentityField(value string) bool {
+	for _, prefix := range identityFieldPrefixes {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(value, prefix) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func trimMarkdownWrapper(value string) string {
+	wrappers := [][2]string{
+		{"**", "**"},
+		{"__", "__"},
+		{"`", "`"},
+		{"*", "*"},
+		{"_", "_"},
+	}
+	for _, wrapper := range wrappers {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(value, wrapper[0]) && strings.HasSuffix(value, wrapper[1]) && len(value) > len(wrapper[0])+len(wrapper[1]) {
+			return strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimSuffix(strings.TrimPrefix(value, wrapper[0]), wrapper[1]))
+		}
+	}
+	return value
 }
 
 // suffixString returns the last n runes of s.
diff --git a/internal/http/summoner_utils_test.go b/internal/http/summoner_utils_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae31bdc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/http/summoner_utils_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package http
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestExtractIdentityName(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+		want    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "extracts inline markdown name",
+			content: `# IDENTITY.md - Who Am I?
+
+- **Name:** GoClaw
+- **Creature:** AI assistant`,
+			want: "GoClaw",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "ignores next bullet when name is blank",
+			content: `# IDENTITY.md - Who Am I?
+
+- **Name:**
+- **Creature:** AI assistant`,
+			want: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "rejects inline spillover from another field",
+			content: `# IDENTITY.md - Who Am I?
+
+- **Name:** - **Creature:** AI assistant
+- **Purpose:** Help users`,
+			want: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "strips simple markdown wrappers from name",
+			content: `# IDENTITY.md - Who Am I?
+
+- **Name:** **GoClaw**
+- **Creature:** AI assistant`,
+			want: "GoClaw",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "supports plain name format",
+			content: `# Identity
+Name: GoClaw
+Emoji: 🤖`,
+			want: "GoClaw",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := extractIdentityName(tt.content); got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("extractIdentityName() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}