diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items.tsx
index 565ceb67e08d..7d73180217a7 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { copyFilePath, revealFile } from '@/store/file-actions'
 import { revealFileInTree } from '@/store/layout'
 import { $activeGatewayProfile } from '@/store/profile'
+import { $projectTree, projectNameForCwd } from '@/store/projects'
 import {
   $activeSessionId,
   $busy,
@@ -91,6 +92,12 @@ export function useStatusbarItems({
   const terminalTakeover = useStore($terminalTakeover)
   const primaryBusy = useStore($busy)
   const currentCwd = useStore($currentCwd)
+  // Derive the workspace's project name from the already-cached project tree
+  // (backend truth via projects.*), so the status item labels by project without
+  // a second per-session copy of the same fact. Re-derives whenever the cwd or
+  // the tree changes; null (no named project) falls back to the cwd leaf below.
+  const projectTree = useStore($projectTree)
+  const projectName = useMemo(() => projectNameForCwd(currentCwd), [currentCwd, projectTree])
   const primaryUsage = useStore($currentUsage)
   const gatewayRestarting = useStore($gatewayRestarting)
   const primarySessionStartedAt = useStore($sessionStartedAt)
@@ -313,7 +320,10 @@ export function useStatusbarItems({
         hidden: !currentCwd,
         icon: <FolderOpen className="size-3" />,
         id: 'workspace-cwd',
-        label: currentCwd ? workspaceLabel(currentCwd) : undefined,
+        // Prefer the named project; fall back to the cwd leaf. The full cwd is
+        // always in the tooltip (`title` below), so hovering reveals where the
+        // session actually sits — the worktree/subfolder, not just the project.
+        label: projectName || (currentCwd ? workspaceLabel(currentCwd) : undefined),
         menuItems: currentCwd
           ? [
               {
@@ -388,6 +398,7 @@ export function useStatusbarItems({
       inferenceReady,
       inferenceStatus?.reason,
       openAgents,
+      projectName,
       subagentsFailed,
       subagentsRunning,
       toggleCommandCenter
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.test.ts
index 24bc2a6f854b..91dd14226b3d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.test.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@ import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 import { $sidebarAgentsGrouped } from '@/store/layout'
 
+import type { SidebarProjectTree } from '@/app/chat/sidebar/projects/workspace-groups'
+
 import {
   $activeProjectId,
   $projectScope,
   $projectsRpcAvailable,
+  $projectTree,
   $worktreeRefreshToken,
   ALL_PROJECTS,
   createProject,
@@ -13,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   exitProjectScope,
   openProjectCreate,
   pickProjectFolder,
+  projectNameForCwd,
   refreshProjects,
   refreshWorktrees
 } from './projects'
@@ -81,6 +85,66 @@ describe('project scope', () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe('projectNameForCwd', () => {
+  const treeNode = (over: Partial<SidebarProjectTree> & Pick<SidebarProjectTree, 'id' | 'label'>): SidebarProjectTree => ({
+    path: null,
+    repos: [],
+    sessionCount: 0,
+    ...over
+  })
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    $projectTree.set([])
+  })
+
+  it('names the explicit project owning the cwd (longest path match)', () => {
+    $projectTree.set([
+      treeNode({ id: 'p_web', label: 'Website', path: '/repos/website' }),
+      treeNode({ id: 'p_api', label: 'API', path: '/repos/api' })
+    ])
+
+    expect(projectNameForCwd('/repos/website/src/app')).toBe('Website')
+  })
+
+  it('matches nested repo and worktree paths, not just the project root', () => {
+    $projectTree.set([
+      treeNode({
+        id: 'p_mono',
+        label: 'Monorepo',
+        path: '/repos/mono',
+        repos: [
+          {
+            id: 'r1',
+            label: 'mono',
+            path: '/repos/mono',
+            sessionCount: 0,
+            groups: [{ id: 'g1', label: 'feature', path: '/elsewhere/mono-feature', sessions: [] }]
+          }
+        ]
+      })
+    ])
+
+    // A linked worktree lives OUTSIDE the project root but still belongs to it.
+    expect(projectNameForCwd('/elsewhere/mono-feature/src')).toBe('Monorepo')
+  })
+
+  it('ignores auto-projects and the No-project bucket (no named identity)', () => {
+    $projectTree.set([
+      treeNode({ id: '/repos/loose', label: 'loose', path: '/repos/loose', isAuto: true }),
+      treeNode({ id: '__no_project__', label: 'No project', path: null, isNoProject: true })
+    ])
+
+    expect(projectNameForCwd('/repos/loose/src')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('returns null for a cwd in no project and for a blank cwd', () => {
+    $projectTree.set([treeNode({ id: 'p_web', label: 'Website', path: '/repos/website' })])
+
+    expect(projectNameForCwd('/somewhere/else')).toBeNull()
+    expect(projectNameForCwd('')).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
 describe('worktree refresh', () => {
   it('refreshWorktrees bumps the probe token so useRepoWorktreeMap refetches', () => {
     const before = $worktreeRefreshToken.get()
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.ts
index 7504f6686031..64f9b01fd3a7 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/projects.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,44 @@ export function projectIdForCwd(cwd: string): null | string {
   return best
 }
 
+// The display NAME of the explicit, named project owning `cwd` (longest path
+// match), or null when the cwd sits in no named project. The status bar reads
+// this to label the workspace by project instead of the bare cwd leaf. We skip
+// auto-projects (a repo root promoted with no projects.db row) and the synthetic
+// "No project" bucket on purpose: those have no human name, so their sessions
+// keep the cwd-leaf label — matching the backend `_project_info_for_cwd`, which
+// only resolves projects.db rows, so the desktop and TUI name the same session
+// identically without threading a second per-session copy through session.info.
+export function projectNameForCwd(cwd: string): null | string {
+  const target = (cwd || '').trim()
+
+  if (!target) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  let best: null | string = null
+  let bestLen = -1
+
+  for (const project of $projectTree.get()) {
+    if (project.isAuto || project.isNoProject) {
+      continue
+    }
+
+    const paths = [project.path, ...project.repos.flatMap(repo => [repo.path, ...repo.groups.map(group => group.path)])]
+
+    for (const path of paths) {
+      const p = (path || '').trim()
+
+      if (p && underPath(p, target) && p.length > bestLen) {
+        bestLen = p.length
+        best = project.label
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return best
+}
+
 // The active session's agent relocated itself (created/entered another repo or
 // worktree via the terminal — backend re-anchors its cwd and emits session.info).
 // Re-pull projects + tree so a freshly created/auto project and the relocated
diff --git a/tests/tui_gateway/test_projects_rpc.py b/tests/tui_gateway/test_projects_rpc.py
index ca65803d5aee..2d38c1d7a535 100644
--- a/tests/tui_gateway/test_projects_rpc.py
+++ b/tests/tui_gateway/test_projects_rpc.py
@@ -172,6 +172,55 @@ def test_add_folder_and_for_cwd(tmp_path):
     assert "branch" in resolved
 
 
+def test_project_info_for_cwd_returns_status_payload(tmp_path):
+    # The status-surface resolver returns the owning project's identity for a
+    # nested cwd — the shape the TUI status label + /status read.
+    folder = tmp_path / "repo"
+    folder.mkdir()
+    created = _call("projects.create", {"name": "Repo", "folders": [str(folder)]})["project"]
+
+    nested = folder / "src"
+    nested.mkdir()
+
+    assert server._project_info_for_cwd(str(nested)) == {
+        "id": created["id"],
+        "slug": "repo",
+        "name": "Repo",
+        "primary_path": str(folder),
+    }
+
+
+def test_project_info_for_cwd_unowned_and_blank_are_none(tmp_path):
+    # A cwd outside every project — and an empty cwd — carry no project, so the
+    # status label falls back to the cwd leaf on every surface.
+    owned = tmp_path / "owned"
+    owned.mkdir()
+    _call("projects.create", {"name": "Owned", "folders": [str(owned)]})
+
+    outside = tmp_path / "outside"
+    outside.mkdir()
+
+    assert server._project_info_for_cwd(str(outside)) is None
+    assert server._project_info_for_cwd("") is None
+
+
+def test_session_info_carries_project_for_owned_cwd(tmp_path):
+    # session.info threads the resolved project through so the desktop/TUI can
+    # name the workspace without a second round-trip.
+    folder = tmp_path / "proj"
+    folder.mkdir()
+    _call("projects.create", {"name": "Proj", "folders": [str(folder)]})
+
+    info = server._session_info(None, {"cwd": str(folder), "session_key": "s1"})
+    assert info["project"] == {
+        "id": info["project"]["id"],
+        "slug": "proj",
+        "name": "Proj",
+        "primary_path": str(folder),
+    }
+    assert info["project"]["name"] == "Proj"
+
+
 def test_update_and_archive(tmp_path):
     pid = _call("projects.create", {"name": "Orig", "folders": [str(tmp_path)]})["project"]["id"]
 
diff --git a/tui_gateway/server.py b/tui_gateway/server.py
index cba10c4aad00..fc766f9f7470 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/server.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/server.py
@@ -3699,6 +3699,35 @@ def _session_usage_snapshot(session: dict | None) -> dict:
     return dict(mirror_usage) if isinstance(mirror_usage, dict) else {}
 
 
+def _project_info_for_cwd(cwd: str) -> dict | None:
+    """Return the first-class Project owning ``cwd`` for UI status surfaces.
+
+    Backed by the per-profile projects.db (the same store the desktop's project
+    tree caches), so the TUI status label, the desktop status bar, and ``/status``
+    all name the session's workspace identically. Only explicit, named projects
+    resolve here — an auto-discovered repo root has no projects.db row, so it
+    falls back to the cwd leaf on every surface.
+    """
+    if not str(cwd or "").strip():
+        return None
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli import projects_db as pdb
+
+        with pdb.connect_closing() as conn:
+            project = pdb.project_for_path(conn, cwd)
+        if project is None:
+            return None
+        return {
+            "id": project.id,
+            "slug": project.slug,
+            "name": project.name,
+            "primary_path": project.primary_path,
+        }
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("failed to resolve project for cwd", exc_info=True)
+        return None
+
+
 def _session_info(agent, session: dict | None = None) -> dict:
     if session is None:
         for candidate in _sessions.values():
@@ -3754,6 +3783,7 @@ def _session_info(agent, session: dict | None = None) -> dict:
         "skills": dict(mirror.get("skills") or {}) if isinstance(mirror.get("skills"), dict) else {},
         "cwd": cwd,
         "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(cwd),
+        "project": _project_info_for_cwd(cwd),
         "personality": str(personality or ""),
         "running": bool((session or {}).get("running")),
         "title": _session_live_title(session or {}, session_key) if session_key else "",
@@ -4357,7 +4387,12 @@ def _apply_project_workspace(task_id: str, path: str, _name: str = "") -> None:
         info = (
             _session_info(agent, session)
             if agent is not None
-            else {"cwd": resolved, "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(resolved), "lazy": True}
+            else {
+                "cwd": resolved,
+                "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(resolved),
+                "project": _project_info_for_cwd(resolved),
+                "lazy": True,
+            }
         )
         _emit("session.info", sid, info)
     except Exception:
@@ -5812,6 +5847,7 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
                 "skills": {},
                 "cwd": _sessions[sid]["cwd"],
                 "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(_sessions[sid]["cwd"]),
+                "project": _project_info_for_cwd(_sessions[sid]["cwd"]),
                 "lazy": True,
                 "desktop_contract": DESKTOP_BACKEND_CONTRACT,
                 "profile_name": _current_profile_name(),
@@ -5958,6 +5994,7 @@ def _lazy_resume_info(cwd: str, *, model: str = "", provider: str = "") -> dict:
     info = {
         "cwd": cwd,
         "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(cwd),
+        "project": _project_info_for_cwd(cwd),
         "model": model or _resolve_model(),
         "tools": {},
         "skills": {},
@@ -6452,6 +6489,7 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
     info = _session_info(agent, session) if agent is not None else {
         "cwd": cwd,
         "branch": _git_branch_for_cwd(cwd),
+        "project": _project_info_for_cwd(cwd),
         "lazy": True,
     }
     _emit("session.info", params.get("session_id", ""), info)
@@ -6551,8 +6589,10 @@ def _fallback_session_info(session: dict) -> dict:
     agent = session.get("agent")
     if agent is not None:
         return _session_info(agent)
+    cwd = _default_session_cwd()
     return {
-        "cwd": _default_session_cwd(),
+        "cwd": cwd,
+        "project": _project_info_for_cwd(cwd),
         "lazy": True,
         "model": _resolve_model(),
         "skills": {},
@@ -8618,12 +8658,15 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
     usage = _session_usage_snapshot(session)
     provider = getattr(agent, "provider", None) or mirror.get("provider") or "unknown"
     model = getattr(agent, "model", None) or mirror.get("model") or "(unknown)"
+    project = _project_info_for_cwd(_display_session_cwd(session))
     lines = [
         "Hermes TUI Status",
         "",
         f"Session ID: {key}",
         f"Path: {display_hermes_home()}",
     ]
+    if project:
+        lines.append(f"Project: {project['name']}")
     title = (meta.get("title") or "").strip()
     if title:
         lines.append(f"Title: {title}")
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/__tests__/paths.test.ts b/ui-tui/src/__tests__/paths.test.ts
index d829dce2e5ea..b4404784cb3f 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/__tests__/paths.test.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/__tests__/paths.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 
-import { composeTabTitle, fmtCwdBranch, shortCwd } from '../domain/paths.js'
+import { composeTabTitle, fmtCwdBranch, fmtProjectCwdBranch, shortCwd, shortProject } from '../domain/paths.js'
 
 describe('shortCwd', () => {
   const origHome = process.env.HOME
@@ -69,6 +69,40 @@ describe('fmtCwdBranch', () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe('shortProject', () => {
+  it('trims whitespace', () => {
+    expect(shortProject('  website  ')).toBe('website')
+  })
+
+  it('truncates long project names from the right', () => {
+    expect(shortProject('a-very-long-project-name', 10)).toBe('a-very-lo…')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('fmtProjectCwdBranch', () => {
+  const origHome = process.env.HOME
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    process.env.HOME = '/Users/bb'
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    process.env.HOME = origHome
+  })
+
+  it('prefixes the cwd/branch label with the project name', () => {
+    expect(fmtProjectCwdBranch('/Users/bb/proj', 'main', 'website', 28)).toBe('website · ~/proj (main)')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the cwd/branch label when no project is known', () => {
+    expect(fmtProjectCwdBranch('/Users/bb/proj', 'main', null, 28)).toBe('~/proj (main)')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the project visible when space is tight', () => {
+    expect(fmtProjectCwdBranch('/Users/bb/proj', 'main', 'hermes-agent', 12)).toBe('hermes-agent')
+  })
+})
+
 describe('composeTabTitle', () => {
   it('joins marker, name, model, and cwd in order', () => {
     expect(composeTabTitle('✓', 'auth refactor', 'opus-4', '~/proj')).toBe('✓ auth refactor · opus-4 · ~/proj')
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts b/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
index 1b921b814b32..de67e7d13850 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/app/useMainApp.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { RESIZE_COALESCE_MS } from '../config/timing.js'
 import { hasLeadGap, prevRenderedMsg } from '../domain/blockLayout.js'
 import { SECTION_NAMES, sectionMode } from '../domain/details.js'
 import { attachedImageNotice, imageTokenMeta } from '../domain/messages.js'
-import { composeTabTitle, fmtCwdBranch, shortCwd } from '../domain/paths.js'
+import { composeTabTitle, fmtProjectCwdBranch, shortCwd } from '../domain/paths.js'
 import { sessionScopedModelArg } from '../domain/slash.js'
 import { type GatewayClient } from '../gatewayClient.js'
 import type {
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@ export function useMainApp(gw: GatewayClient) {
       // Cap the status-bar cwd/branch label tighter than the shared default so
       // it doesn't dominate the bar; the status rule reserves the left-side
       // essentials and truncates this further on narrow terminals.
-      cwdLabel: fmtCwdBranch(cwd, gitBranch, 28),
+      cwdLabel: fmtProjectCwdBranch(cwd, gitBranch, ui.info?.project?.name, 28),
       goodVibesTick,
       lastTurnEndedAt: ui.sid ? lastTurnEndedAt : null,
       sessionStartedAt: ui.sid ? sessionStartedAt : null,
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/domain/paths.ts b/ui-tui/src/domain/paths.ts
index 243c4fc50c84..1d52c9c045ee 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/domain/paths.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/domain/paths.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,34 @@ export const fmtCwdBranch = (cwd: string, branch: null | string, max = 40) => {
   return `${shortCwd(cwd, Math.max(8, max - tag.length))}${tag}`
 }
 
+export const shortProject = (projectName: string, max = 18) => {
+  const name = projectName.trim()
+
+  return name.length <= max ? name : `${name.slice(0, Math.max(1, max - 1))}…`
+}
+
+// Status-bar workspace label: the terminal has no hover tooltip, so the project
+// name is shown INLINE alongside the cwd/branch (`<project> · ~/cwd (branch)`).
+// Falls back to the plain cwd/branch label when the session sits in no named
+// project, and when space is tight the project name wins (it's the identity the
+// user recognizes) with the cwd/branch dropped.
+export const fmtProjectCwdBranch = (cwd: string, branch: null | string, projectName?: null | string, max = 40) => {
+  const project = shortProject(projectName || '')
+
+  if (!project) {
+    return fmtCwdBranch(cwd, branch, max)
+  }
+
+  const separator = ' · '
+  const remaining = max - project.length - separator.length
+
+  if (remaining < 8) {
+    return shortProject(project, max)
+  }
+
+  return `${project}${separator}${fmtCwdBranch(cwd, branch, remaining)}`
+}
+
 /**
  * Compose the terminal titlebar string:
  *   `<marker> <session name> · <model> · <cwd>`
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/types.ts b/ui-tui/src/types.ts
index 6f6818e37cde..7ba16eda93da 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/types.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/types.ts
@@ -149,6 +149,13 @@ export interface McpServerStatus {
   transport: string
 }
 
+export interface ProjectInfo {
+  id: string
+  name: string
+  primary_path?: null | string
+  slug: string
+}
+
 export interface SessionInfo {
   cwd?: string
   fast?: boolean
@@ -157,6 +164,7 @@ export interface SessionInfo {
   mcp_servers?: McpServerStatus[]
   model: string
   profile_name?: string
+  project?: null | ProjectInfo
   reasoning_effort?: string
   release_date?: string
   service_tier?: string