diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 2712a01eab..46a7e2c5f9 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1618,6 +1618,10 @@ def _model_flow_custom(config):
             model_name = input("Model name (e.g. gpt-4, llama-3-70b): ").strip()
 
         context_length_str = input("Context length in tokens [leave blank for auto-detect]: ").strip()
+
+        # Prompt for a display name — shown in the provider menu on future runs
+        default_name = _auto_provider_name(effective_url)
+        display_name = input(f"Display name [{default_name}]: ").strip() or default_name
     except (KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):
         print("\nCancelled.")
         return
@@ -1673,15 +1677,37 @@ def _model_flow_custom(config):
         print("Endpoint saved. Use `/model` in chat or `hermes model` to set a model.")
 
     # Auto-save to custom_providers so it appears in the menu next time
-    _save_custom_provider(effective_url, effective_key, model_name or "", context_length=context_length)
+    _save_custom_provider(effective_url, effective_key, model_name or "",
+                          context_length=context_length, name=display_name)
 
 
-def _save_custom_provider(base_url, api_key="", model="", context_length=None):
+def _auto_provider_name(base_url: str) -> str:
+    """Generate a display name from a custom endpoint URL.
+
+    Returns a human-friendly label like "Local (localhost:11434)" or
+    "RunPod (xyz.runpod.io)".  Used as the default when prompting the
+    user for a display name during custom endpoint setup.
+    """
+    import re
+    clean = base_url.replace("https://", "").replace("http://", "").rstrip("/")
+    clean = re.sub(r"/v1/?$", "", clean)
+    name = clean.split("/")[0]
+    if "localhost" in name or "127.0.0.1" in name:
+        name = f"Local ({name})"
+    elif "runpod" in name.lower():
+        name = f"RunPod ({name})"
+    else:
+        name = name.capitalize()
+    return name
+
+
+def _save_custom_provider(base_url, api_key="", model="", context_length=None,
+                          name=None):
     """Save a custom endpoint to custom_providers in config.yaml.
 
     Deduplicates by base_url — if the URL already exists, updates the
     model name and context_length but doesn't add a duplicate entry.
-    Auto-generates a display name from the URL hostname.
+    Uses *name* when provided, otherwise auto-generates from the URL.
     """
     from hermes_cli.config import load_config, save_config
 
@@ -1709,20 +1735,9 @@ def _save_custom_provider(base_url, api_key="", model="", context_length=None):
                 save_config(cfg)
             return  # already saved, updated if needed
 
-    # Auto-generate a name from the URL
-    import re
-    clean = base_url.replace("https://", "").replace("http://", "").rstrip("/")
-    # Remove /v1 suffix for cleaner names
-    clean = re.sub(r"/v1/?$", "", clean)
-    # Use hostname:port as the name
-    name = clean.split("/")[0]
-    # Capitalize for readability
-    if "localhost" in name or "127.0.0.1" in name:
-        name = f"Local ({name})"
-    elif "runpod" in name.lower():
-        name = f"RunPod ({name})"
-    else:
-        name = name.capitalize()
+    # Use provided name or auto-generate from URL
+    if not name:
+        name = _auto_provider_name(base_url)
 
     entry = {"name": name, "base_url": base_url}
     if api_key:
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py b/tests/cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
index 353b3234eb..9c5bf0cca4 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_cli_provider_resolution.py
@@ -576,8 +576,9 @@ def test_model_flow_custom_saves_verified_v1_base_url(monkeypatch, capsys):
     monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.config.save_config", lambda cfg: None)
 
     # After the probe detects a single model ("llm"), the flow asks
-    # "Use this model? [Y/n]:" — confirm with Enter, then context length.
-    answers = iter(["http://localhost:8000", "local-key", "", ""])
+    # "Use this model? [Y/n]:" — confirm with Enter, then context length,
+    # then display name.
+    answers = iter(["http://localhost:8000", "local-key", "", "", ""])
     monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", lambda _prompt="": next(answers))
     monkeypatch.setattr("getpass.getpass", lambda _prompt="": next(answers))
 
@@ -641,3 +642,46 @@ def test_cmd_model_forwards_nous_login_tls_options(monkeypatch):
         "ca_bundle": "/tmp/local-ca.pem",
         "insecure": True,
     }
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _auto_provider_name — unit tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_auto_provider_name_localhost():
+    from hermes_cli.main import _auto_provider_name
+    assert _auto_provider_name("http://localhost:11434/v1") == "Local (localhost:11434)"
+    assert _auto_provider_name("http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1") == "Local (127.0.0.1:1234)"
+
+
+def test_auto_provider_name_runpod():
+    from hermes_cli.main import _auto_provider_name
+    assert "RunPod" in _auto_provider_name("https://xyz.runpod.io/v1")
+
+
+def test_auto_provider_name_remote():
+    from hermes_cli.main import _auto_provider_name
+    result = _auto_provider_name("https://api.together.xyz/v1")
+    assert result == "Api.together.xyz"
+
+
+def test_save_custom_provider_uses_provided_name(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """When a display name is passed, it should appear in the saved entry."""
+    import yaml
+    from hermes_cli.main import _save_custom_provider
+
+    cfg_path = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    cfg_path.write_text(yaml.dump({}))
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.config.load_config", lambda: yaml.safe_load(cfg_path.read_text()) or {},
+    )
+    saved = {}
+    def _save(cfg):
+        saved.update(cfg)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.config.save_config", _save)
+
+    _save_custom_provider("http://localhost:11434/v1", name="Ollama")
+    entries = saved.get("custom_providers", [])
+    assert len(entries) == 1
+    assert entries[0]["name"] == "Ollama"