diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index 46e49b848..664828bf9 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -944,6 +944,10 @@
     "name_cull_desc": "Hide names smaller than this size",
     "hover_fade_label": "Name opacity under cursor",
     "hover_fade_desc": "How visible names are while your cursor is over them (1 to disable fading)",
+    "hover_glow_width_label": "Hover glow size",
+    "hover_glow_width_desc": "How far the white glow extends behind the hovered player's name",
+    "hover_glow_alpha_label": "Hover glow strength",
+    "hover_glow_alpha_desc": "How bright the white glow behind the hovered player's name is (0 to disable)",
     "colored_names_label": "Name color",
     "colored_names_desc": "Show player names in their player color or in black",
     "colored": "Colored",
diff --git a/src/client/hud/layers/GraphicsSettingsModal.ts b/src/client/hud/layers/GraphicsSettingsModal.ts
index c5aff6ae9..b41842be6 100644
--- a/src/client/hud/layers/GraphicsSettingsModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/hud/layers/GraphicsSettingsModal.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ const HOVER_FADE_MIN = 0;
 const HOVER_FADE_MAX = 1;
 const HOVER_FADE_STEP = 0.05;
 
+const HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_MIN = 0;
+const HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_MAX = 8;
+const HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_STEP = 0.5;
+
+const HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_MIN = 0;
+const HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_MAX = 1;
+const HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_STEP = 0.05;
+
 const HIGHLIGHT_FILL_MIN = 0;
 const HIGHLIGHT_FILL_MAX = 1;
 const HIGHLIGHT_FILL_STEP = 0.01;
@@ -159,6 +167,20 @@ export class GraphicsSettingsModal extends LitElement implements Controller {
     );
   }
 
+  private currentHoverGlowWidth(): number {
+    return (
+      this.userSettings.graphicsOverrides().name?.hoverGlowWidth ??
+      renderDefaults.name.hoverGlowWidth
+    );
+  }
+
+  private currentHoverGlowAlpha(): number {
+    return (
+      this.userSettings.graphicsOverrides().name?.hoverGlowAlpha ??
+      renderDefaults.name.hoverGlowAlpha
+    );
+  }
+
   private patchName(patch: Partial<GraphicsOverrides["name"]>) {
     const current = this.userSettings.graphicsOverrides();
     this.userSettings.setGraphicsOverrides({
@@ -349,6 +371,16 @@ export class GraphicsSettingsModal extends LitElement implements Controller {
     this.patchName({ hoverFadeAlpha: value });
   }
 
+  private onHoverGlowWidthChange(event: Event) {
+    const value = parseFloat((event.target as HTMLInputElement).value);
+    this.patchName({ hoverGlowWidth: value });
+  }
+
+  private onHoverGlowAlphaChange(event: Event) {
+    const value = parseFloat((event.target as HTMLInputElement).value);
+    this.patchName({ hoverGlowAlpha: value });
+  }
+
   private currentDarkNames(): boolean {
     return (
       this.userSettings.graphicsOverrides().name?.darkNames ??
@@ -371,6 +403,8 @@ export class GraphicsSettingsModal extends LitElement implements Controller {
     const nameScale = this.currentNameScale();
     const nameCull = this.currentNameCull();
     const hoverFade = this.currentHoverFade();
+    const hoverGlowWidth = this.currentHoverGlowWidth();
+    const hoverGlowAlpha = this.currentHoverGlowAlpha();
     const namesColored = !this.currentDarkNames();
     const classicIcons = this.currentClassicIcons();
     const highlightFill = this.currentHighlightFill();
@@ -492,6 +526,56 @@ export class GraphicsSettingsModal extends LitElement implements Controller {
               </div>
             </div>
 
+            <div
+              class="flex gap-3 items-center w-full text-left p-3 hover:bg-slate-700 rounded-sm text-white transition-colors"
+            >
+              <div class="flex-1">
+                <div class="font-medium">
+                  ${translateText("graphics_setting.hover_glow_width_label")}
+                </div>
+                <div class="text-sm text-slate-400">
+                  ${translateText("graphics_setting.hover_glow_width_desc")}
+                </div>
+                <input
+                  type="range"
+                  min=${HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_MIN}
+                  max=${HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_MAX}
+                  step=${HOVER_GLOW_WIDTH_STEP}
+                  .value=${String(hoverGlowWidth)}
+                  @input=${this.onHoverGlowWidthChange}
+                  class="w-full border border-slate-500 rounded-lg"
+                />
+              </div>
+              <div class="text-sm text-slate-400 w-12 text-right">
+                ${hoverGlowWidth.toFixed(1)}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            <div
+              class="flex gap-3 items-center w-full text-left p-3 hover:bg-slate-700 rounded-sm text-white transition-colors"
+            >
+              <div class="flex-1">
+                <div class="font-medium">
+                  ${translateText("graphics_setting.hover_glow_alpha_label")}
+                </div>
+                <div class="text-sm text-slate-400">
+                  ${translateText("graphics_setting.hover_glow_alpha_desc")}
+                </div>
+                <input
+                  type="range"
+                  min=${HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_MIN}
+                  max=${HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_MAX}
+                  step=${HOVER_GLOW_ALPHA_STEP}
+                  .value=${String(hoverGlowAlpha)}
+                  @input=${this.onHoverGlowAlphaChange}
+                  class="w-full border border-slate-500 rounded-lg"
+                />
+              </div>
+              <div class="text-sm text-slate-400 w-12 text-right">
+                ${hoverGlowAlpha.toFixed(2)}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
             <button
               class="flex gap-3 items-center w-full text-left p-3 hover:bg-slate-700 rounded-sm text-white transition-colors"
               @click=${this.onToggleNamesColored}
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/GraphicsOverrides.ts b/src/client/render/gl/GraphicsOverrides.ts
index 72ab17a78..1a34dd585 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/GraphicsOverrides.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/GraphicsOverrides.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ export const GraphicsOverridesSchema = z
         cullThreshold: z.number(),
         darkNames: z.boolean(),
         hoverFadeAlpha: z.number(),
+        hoverGlowWidth: z.number(),
+        hoverGlowAlpha: z.number(),
       })
       .partial(),
     structure: z
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/RenderOverrides.ts b/src/client/render/gl/RenderOverrides.ts
index 5d718cb13..6c47f0c85 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/RenderOverrides.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/RenderOverrides.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ export function applyGraphicsOverrides(
   if (overrides.name?.hoverFadeAlpha !== undefined) {
     settings.name.hoverFadeAlpha = overrides.name.hoverFadeAlpha;
   }
+  if (overrides.name?.hoverGlowWidth !== undefined) {
+    settings.name.hoverGlowWidth = overrides.name.hoverGlowWidth;
+  }
+  if (overrides.name?.hoverGlowAlpha !== undefined) {
+    settings.name.hoverGlowAlpha = overrides.name.hoverGlowAlpha;
+  }
   if (overrides.structure?.classicIcons === true) {
     // Classic look: lighter player-colored shape behind a dark icon glyph,
     // with a touch of translucency.
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts b/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
index 716029e51..ce89784a8 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/RenderSettings.ts
@@ -243,6 +243,10 @@ export interface RenderSettings {
     statusRowOffset: number;
     /** Alpha multiplier applied to a name while the cursor is over it. */
     hoverFadeAlpha: number;
+    /** White glow behind the hovered player's name: px past the outline. */
+    hoverGlowWidth: number;
+    /** Peak opacity of the hover glow (0 disables it). */
+    hoverGlowAlpha: number;
   };
   fx: {
     shockwaveRingWidth: number;
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts b/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
index 131fc5893..e885f11fa 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/debug/Layout.ts
@@ -326,6 +326,8 @@ export function buildTree(s: RenderSettings, d: RenderSettings): DebugNode[] {
       slider(s.name, "emojiRowOffset", d.name, 0, 5, 0.1, "Emoji Row Offset"),
       slider(s.name, "statusRowOffset", d.name, 0, 5, 0.1, "Status Row Offset"),
       slider(s.name, "hoverFadeAlpha", d.name, 0, 1, 0.05, "Hover Fade Alpha"),
+      slider(s.name, "hoverGlowWidth", d.name, 0, 8, 0.25, "Hover Glow Width"),
+      slider(s.name, "hoverGlowAlpha", d.name, 0, 1, 0.05, "Hover Glow Alpha"),
     ]),
 
     folder("FX", [
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/name-pass/TextProgram.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/name-pass/TextProgram.ts
index 448a25cd1..66ff87ee1 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/name-pass/TextProgram.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/name-pass/TextProgram.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ export class TextProgram {
   private uOutlineColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uOutlineUsePlayerColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
   private uFillUsePlayerColor: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uHoverGlowWidth: WebGLUniformLocation;
+  private uHoverGlowAlpha: WebGLUniformLocation;
 
   private distanceRange: number;
 
@@ -128,6 +130,14 @@ export class TextProgram {
       this.program,
       "uFillUsePlayerColor",
     )!;
+    this.uHoverGlowWidth = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.program,
+      "uHoverGlowWidth",
+    )!;
+    this.uHoverGlowAlpha = gl.getUniformLocation(
+      this.program,
+      "uHoverGlowAlpha",
+    )!;
 
     this.loadAtlas();
   }
@@ -188,6 +198,8 @@ export class TextProgram {
       ns.outlineUsePlayerColor ? 1.0 : 0.0,
     );
     gl.uniform1f(this.uFillUsePlayerColor, ns.fillUsePlayerColor ? 1.0 : 0.0);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uHoverGlowWidth, ns.hoverGlowWidth);
+    gl.uniform1f(this.uHoverGlowAlpha, ns.hoverGlowAlpha);
 
     gl.activeTexture(gl.TEXTURE0);
     gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, this.atlasTex!);
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
index c10473556..616fb9864 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
@@ -207,7 +207,9 @@
     "nameShadeBot": 0.4,
     "emojiRowOffset": 1.4,
     "statusRowOffset": 1.4,
-    "hoverFadeAlpha": 0.25
+    "hoverFadeAlpha": 0.5,
+    "hoverGlowWidth": 5,
+    "hoverGlowAlpha": 0.75
   },
   "fx": {
     "shockwaveRingWidth": 0.04,
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.frag.glsl
index 2b9727482..c1c14610b 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.frag.glsl
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@ uniform float uNightAmbient;
 uniform vec3  uOutlineColor;
 uniform float uOutlineUsePlayerColor;
 uniform float uFillUsePlayerColor;
+uniform float uHoverGlowWidth; // px the white hover glow extends past the outline
+uniform float uHoverGlowAlpha; // peak opacity of the hover glow
 
 in vec2 vUV;
 in vec4 vPlayerColor;   // player territory color (rgb) + alpha
 in float vNameShade;      // name fill grayscale shade (0.0 = black)
+flat in float vHighlight; // 1.0 when this player is hovered (white glow)
 out vec4 fragColor;
 
 float median(float r, float g, float b) {
@@ -42,20 +45,40 @@ void main() {
   float screenPxDist = screenPxRange * (sd - 0.5);
   float fillAlpha = clamp(screenPxDist + 0.5, 0.0, 1.0);
 
-  if (uOutlineWidth > 0.0) {
-    // The SDF saturates at sd=0 (screenPxDist = -screenPxRange*0.5).
-    // Reserve a 1px margin so saturated fragments always get alpha=0.
-    float maxOutline = max(screenPxRange * 0.5 - 1.0, 0.0);
-    float effectiveOutline = min(uOutlineWidth, maxOutline);
+  // The SDF saturates at sd=0 (screenPxDist = -screenPxRange*0.5).
+  // Reserve a 1px margin so saturated fragments always get alpha=0.
+  float maxOutline = max(screenPxRange * 0.5 - 1.0, 0.0);
+  float effectiveOutline = min(uOutlineWidth, maxOutline);
 
+  vec3 color;
+  float coverage;
+  if (uOutlineWidth > 0.0) {
     float outlineDist = screenPxDist + effectiveOutline;
     float outlineAlpha = clamp(outlineDist + 0.5, 0.0, 1.0);
 
     vec3 nightOutlineColor = mix(vec3(0.0), uOutlineColor, borderT);
     vec3 borderColor = mix(nightOutlineColor, vPlayerColor.rgb, uOutlineUsePlayerColor);
-    vec3 color = mix(borderColor, fillColor, fillAlpha);
-    fragColor = vec4(color, vPlayerColor.a * outlineAlpha);
+    color = mix(borderColor, fillColor, fillAlpha);
+    coverage = outlineAlpha;
   } else {
-    fragColor = vec4(fillColor, vPlayerColor.a * fillAlpha);
+    color = fillColor;
+    coverage = fillAlpha;
   }
+
+  // Soft white glow behind the hovered player's name. Width is clamped to
+  // the SDF margin past the outline so it never hard-clips at the quad edge.
+  if (vHighlight > 0.5 && uHoverGlowAlpha > 0.0) {
+    float glowWidth = min(uHoverGlowWidth, max(maxOutline - effectiveOutline, 0.0));
+    if (glowWidth > 0.0) {
+      float g = clamp(1.0 + (screenPxDist + effectiveOutline) / glowWidth, 0.0, 1.0);
+      float glowAlpha = g * g * uHoverGlowAlpha;
+      float total = coverage + glowAlpha * (1.0 - coverage);
+      if (total > 0.0) {
+        color = mix(vec3(1.0), color, coverage / total);
+        coverage = total;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  fragColor = vec4(color, vPlayerColor.a * coverage);
 }
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.vert.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.vert.glsl
index c9f6021b5..de3322d65 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.vert.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/name/name.vert.glsl
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ uniform float uHoverFadeAlpha; // alpha multiplier applied to that player's name
 out vec2 vUV;
 out vec4 vPlayerColor;  // player territory color (rgb) + alpha
 out float vNameShade;     // name fill grayscale shade (0.0 = black)
+flat out float vHighlight; // 1.0 when this player is hovered (white glow)
 
 void main() {
   // 1. Decode instance ID → playerIdx, lineIdx, charPos
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ void main() {
     vUV = vec2(0.0);
     vPlayerColor = vec4(0.0);
     vNameShade = 0.0;
+    vHighlight = 0.0;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ void main() {
     vUV = vec2(0.0);
     vPlayerColor = vec4(0.0);
     vNameShade = 0.0;
+    vHighlight = 0.0;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -78,6 +81,7 @@ void main() {
     vUV = vec2(0.0);
     vPlayerColor = vec4(0.0);
     vNameShade = 0.0;
+    vHighlight = 0.0;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@ void main() {
     vUV = vec2(0.0);
     vPlayerColor = vec4(0.0);
     vNameShade = 0.0;
+    vHighlight = 0.0;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ void main() {
     vUV = vec2(0.0);
     vPlayerColor = vec4(0.0);
     vNameShade = 0.0;
+    vHighlight = 0.0;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -166,4 +172,5 @@ void main() {
   vUV = vec2(mix(u0, u1, aPos.x), mix(v0, v1, aPos.y));
   vPlayerColor = vec4(pd2.rgb, pd2.a * hoverAlpha); // player territory color + alpha
   vNameShade = pd3.z;         // name fill grayscale shade (0.0 = black)
+  vHighlight = isHighlighted ? 1.0 : 0.0;
 }
diff --git a/tests/GraphicsOverrides.test.ts b/tests/GraphicsOverrides.test.ts
index a92ea9b0a..9bcd442b6 100644
--- a/tests/GraphicsOverrides.test.ts
+++ b/tests/GraphicsOverrides.test.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ describe("GraphicsOverridesSchema", () => {
       { name: { nameScaleFactor: 0.8 } },
       { name: { cullThreshold: 0.02 } },
       { name: { darkNames: true } },
+      { name: { hoverGlowWidth: 5 } },
+      { name: { hoverGlowAlpha: 0.6 } },
       { name: { nameScaleFactor: 1.2, cullThreshold: 0, darkNames: false } },
+      { name: { hoverGlowWidth: 0, hoverGlowAlpha: 0 } },
     ];
     for (const c of cases) {
       expect(GraphicsOverridesSchema.safeParse(c).success).toBe(true);
@@ -74,6 +77,14 @@ describe("GraphicsOverridesSchema", () => {
     expect(
       GraphicsOverridesSchema.safeParse({ name: { darkNames: "yes" } }).success,
     ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      GraphicsOverridesSchema.safeParse({ name: { hoverGlowWidth: "wide" } })
+        .success,
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      GraphicsOverridesSchema.safeParse({ name: { hoverGlowAlpha: true } })
+        .success,
+    ).toBe(false);
     expect(
       GraphicsOverridesSchema.safeParse({
         structure: { classicIcons: "yes" },
@@ -132,6 +143,28 @@ describe("applyGraphicsOverrides", () => {
     expect(gen({ name: { cullThreshold: 0 } }).name.cullThreshold).toBe(0);
   });
 
+  test("applies hoverGlowWidth override (including 0)", () => {
+    expect(gen({ name: { hoverGlowWidth: 6 } }).name.hoverGlowWidth).toBe(6);
+    expect(gen({ name: { hoverGlowWidth: 0 } }).name.hoverGlowWidth).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("applies hoverGlowAlpha override (including 0)", () => {
+    expect(gen({ name: { hoverGlowAlpha: 0.9 } }).name.hoverGlowAlpha).toBe(
+      0.9,
+    );
+    expect(gen({ name: { hoverGlowAlpha: 0 } }).name.hoverGlowAlpha).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("hover glow overrides leave other name fields at defaults", () => {
+    const defaults = createRenderSettings().name;
+    const s = gen({
+      name: { hoverGlowWidth: 7, hoverGlowAlpha: 0.1 },
+    }).name;
+    expect(s.hoverFadeAlpha).toBe(defaults.hoverFadeAlpha);
+    expect(s.nameScaleFactor).toBe(defaults.nameScaleFactor);
+    expect(s.cullThreshold).toBe(defaults.cullThreshold);
+  });
+
   test("darkNames=true → black fill + player-colored outline + outline RGB 0", () => {
     const s = gen({ name: { darkNames: true } }).name;
     expect(s.fillUsePlayerColor).toBe(false);