diff --git a/bot_bottle/agent_provider.py b/bot_bottle/agent_provider.py
index dcc79b2..4384d98 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/agent_provider.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/agent_provider.py
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ class AgentProvider(ABC):
         forward_host_credentials: bool = False,
         host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
         trusted_project_path: str = "",
+        label: str = "",
+        color: str = "",
     ) -> AgentProvisionPlan:
         """Build the declarative AgentProvisionPlan for one launch.
         Backends call this during `prepare` and consume the result as
@@ -326,6 +328,8 @@ def agent_provision_plan(
     forward_host_credentials: bool = False,
     host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
     trusted_project_path: str = "",
+    label: str = "",
+    color: str = "",
 ) -> AgentProvisionPlan:
     """Back-compat shim — `prepare` callers stay the same; the work
     now lives on the provider plugin."""
@@ -338,6 +342,8 @@ def agent_provision_plan(
         forward_host_credentials=forward_host_credentials,
         host_env=host_env,
         trusted_project_path=trusted_project_path,
+        label=label,
+        color=color,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py b/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
index 52b5f56..1912809 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ class BottleSpec:
     # (`cli.py resume <identity>`) sets this to continue an existing
     # bottle's state. Empty string for a fresh `start`.
     identity: str = ""
+    label: str = ""
+    color: str = ""
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -189,6 +191,8 @@ class ActiveAgent:
     agent_name: str       # from metadata.json; "?" if missing
     started_at: str       # ISO 8601 from metadata.json; "" if missing
     services: tuple[str, ...]  # alphabetical
+    label: str = ""
+    color: str = ""
 
 
 class Bottle(ABC):
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/bottle_state.py b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/bottle_state.py
index 673a278..80c1eea 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/bottle_state.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/bottle_state.py
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ class BottleMetadata:
     # for state dirs written before PRD 0040; callers default to "docker"
     # for backward compatibility.
     backend: str = ""
+    label: str = ""
+    color: str = ""
 
 
 def metadata_path(identity: str) -> Path:
@@ -144,6 +146,8 @@ def read_metadata(identity: str) -> BottleMetadata | None:
         started_at=str(raw_typed.get("started_at", "")),
         compose_project=str(raw_typed.get("compose_project", "")),
         backend=str(raw_typed.get("backend", "")),
+        label=str(raw_typed.get("label", "")),
+        color=str(raw_typed.get("color", "")),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/enumerate.py b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/enumerate.py
index b57fc83..9348d82 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/enumerate.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/enumerate.py
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ def enumerate_active() -> list[ActiveAgent]:
             agent_name=metadata.agent_name if metadata else "?",
             started_at=metadata.started_at if metadata else "",
             services=tuple(sorted(services)),
+            label=metadata.label if metadata else "",
+            color=metadata.color if metadata else "",
         ))
     return out
 
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/prepare.py b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/prepare.py
index 19a130e..73ce414 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/prepare.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/prepare.py
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ def resolve_plan(
         started_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
         compose_project=f"bot-bottle-{slug}",
         backend="docker",
+        label=spec.label,
+        color=spec.color,
     ))
     # Clear any leftover preserve marker from a prior capability-block
     # so this fresh launch can be cleaned up at session-end unless
@@ -191,6 +193,8 @@ def resolve_plan(
         auth_token=provider.auth_token,
         host_env=dict(os.environ),
         trusted_project_path=workspace_plan.workdir,
+        label=spec.label,
+        color=spec.color,
     )
     guest_env = dict(agent_provision.guest_env)
     for key, val in agent_provision.env_vars.items():
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/enumerate.py b/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/enumerate.py
index f1a81ff..c01e4ac 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/enumerate.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/enumerate.py
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ def enumerate_active() -> list[ActiveAgent]:
             agent_name=metadata.agent_name if metadata else "?",
             started_at=metadata.started_at if metadata else "",
             services=services_by_slug.get(slug, ()),
+            label=metadata.label if metadata else "",
+            color=metadata.color if metadata else "",
         ))
     return out
 
diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/prepare.py b/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/prepare.py
index 87c13f6..d69fb85 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/prepare.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/prepare.py
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ def resolve_plan(
         started_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
         compose_project="",
         backend="smolmachines",
+        label=spec.label,
+        color=spec.color,
     ))
 
     subnet, gateway, bundle_ip = smolmachines_bundle_subnet(slug)
@@ -136,6 +138,8 @@ def resolve_plan(
         auth_token=provider.auth_token,
         host_env=dict(os.environ),
         trusted_project_path=workspace_plan.workdir,
+        label=spec.label,
+        color=spec.color,
     )
     merged_guest_env = dict(agent_provision.guest_env)
     for key, val in agent_provision.env_vars.items():
diff --git a/bot_bottle/cli/list.py b/bot_bottle/cli/list.py
index 715b983..e895b72 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/cli/list.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/cli/list.py
@@ -3,12 +3,47 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
+import os
 import sys
 
 from ..backend import enumerate_active_agents
 from ..manifest import Manifest
 from ._common import PROG, USER_CWD
 
+_ANSI_COLOR_CODES: dict[str, str] = {
+    "black": "\033[30m",
+    "red": "\033[31m",
+    "green": "\033[32m",
+    "yellow": "\033[33m",
+    "blue": "\033[34m",
+    "magenta": "\033[35m",
+    "cyan": "\033[36m",
+    "white": "\033[37m",
+    "bright-black": "\033[90m",
+    "bright-red": "\033[91m",
+    "bright-green": "\033[92m",
+    "bright-yellow": "\033[93m",
+    "bright-blue": "\033[94m",
+    "bright-magenta": "\033[95m",
+    "bright-cyan": "\033[96m",
+    "bright-white": "\033[97m",
+}
+_ANSI_RESET = "\033[0m"
+
+
+def _ansi_label(text: str, color: str) -> str:
+    if not color:
+        return text
+    if not sys.stdout.isatty():
+        return text
+    term = os.environ.get("TERM", "")
+    if term in ("dumb", ""):
+        return text
+    code = _ANSI_COLOR_CODES.get(color)
+    if not code:
+        return text
+    return f"{code}{text}{_ANSI_RESET}"
+
 
 def cmd_list(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog=f"{PROG} list", add_help=True)
@@ -27,11 +62,11 @@ def cmd_list(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     if not active:
         print("no active bot-bottle bottles", file=sys.stderr)
         return 0
-    # One line per bottle: `<backend>\t<slug>\t<agent>\t<status>`.
-    # Tab-separated keeps the format stable for shell pipelines;
-    # the dashboard renders the same data through its own
-    # formatter.
+    # One line per bottle: `<backend>\t<slug>\t<label>\t<services>`.
+    # Tab-separated keeps the format stable for shell pipelines.
     for b in active:
         services = ",".join(b.services) if b.services else "-"
-        print(f"{b.backend_name}\t{b.slug}\t{b.agent_name}\t{services}")
+        display_name = b.label if b.label else b.agent_name
+        colored_name = _ansi_label(display_name, b.color)
+        print(f"{b.backend_name}\t{b.slug}\t{colored_name}\t{services}")
     return 0
diff --git a/bot_bottle/cli/start.py b/bot_bottle/cli/start.py
index e95cd85..6bc0fac 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/cli/start.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/cli/start.py
@@ -80,11 +80,15 @@ def cmd_start(argv: list[str]) -> int:
         if backend_name is None:
             return 0
 
+    label, color = tui.name_color_modal(default_label=agent_name)
+
     spec = BottleSpec(
         manifest=manifest,
         agent_name=agent_name,
         copy_cwd=args.cwd,
         user_cwd=USER_CWD,
+        label=label,
+        color=color,
     )
     return _launch_bottle(
         spec,
diff --git a/bot_bottle/cli/tui.py b/bot_bottle/cli/tui.py
index a52260f..2b8bb4c 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/cli/tui.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/cli/tui.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 Exposed surface:
 
   filter_select(items, *, title="", tty_path="/dev/tty") -> str | None
+  name_color_modal(default_label, *, tty_path="/dev/tty") -> (str, str)
 
 Opens /dev/tty directly so the picker works even when stdout/stdin are
 redirected.  Returns the selected item or None on cancel.
@@ -218,3 +219,219 @@ def _addstr_safe(screen: Any, row: int, col: int, text: str, attr: int = curses.
         screen.addstr(row, col, text, attr)
     except curses.error:
         pass
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# name_color_modal — two-step label + color picker
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+_ANSI_COLORS = [
+    "red", "green", "blue", "yellow", "magenta", "cyan", "white", "black",
+    "bright-red", "bright-green", "bright-blue", "bright-yellow",
+    "bright-magenta", "bright-cyan", "bright-white", "bright-black",
+]
+
+_CURSES_COLOR_MAP: dict[str, int] = {
+    "black": curses.COLOR_BLACK,
+    "red": curses.COLOR_RED,
+    "green": curses.COLOR_GREEN,
+    "yellow": curses.COLOR_YELLOW,
+    "blue": curses.COLOR_BLUE,
+    "magenta": curses.COLOR_MAGENTA,
+    "cyan": curses.COLOR_CYAN,
+    "white": curses.COLOR_WHITE,
+}
+
+_COLOR_NONE = "(none)"
+
+
+def name_color_modal(
+    default_label: str,
+    *,
+    tty_path: str = "/dev/tty",
+) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    """Present a two-step curses modal: first edit the agent label,
+    then optionally pick a color.
+
+    Returns ``(label, color)`` where ``color`` is one of the 16 ANSI
+    color name strings or ``""`` for no color. Falls back to
+    ``(default_label, "")`` on any error (terminal too small, not a tty).
+    """
+    try:
+        tty_fd = open(tty_path, "r+b", buffering=0)  # pylint: disable=consider-using-with
+    except OSError:
+        return default_label, ""
+
+    try:
+        fd_dup = os.dup(tty_fd.fileno())
+        return _run_name_color(default_label, tty_fd=fd_dup)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-caught
+        return default_label, ""
+    finally:
+        tty_fd.close()
+
+
+def _run_name_color(default_label: str, *, tty_fd: int) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    import io
+    orig_stdin = sys.__stdin__
+    orig_stdout = sys.__stdout__
+    try:
+        tty_text = io.TextIOWrapper(io.FileIO(tty_fd, mode="r+"), write_through=True)
+        sys.__stdin__ = tty_text   # type: ignore[assignment]
+        sys.__stdout__ = tty_text  # type: ignore[assignment]
+        os.environ.setdefault("TERM", "xterm-256color")
+
+        screen = curses.initscr()
+        curses.noecho()
+        curses.cbreak()
+        screen.keypad(True)
+        try:
+            label = _label_step(screen, default_label)
+            color = _color_step(screen, label)
+        finally:
+            screen.keypad(False)
+            curses.nocbreak()
+            curses.echo()
+            curses.endwin()
+    finally:
+        sys.__stdin__ = orig_stdin    # type: ignore[assignment]
+        sys.__stdout__ = orig_stdout  # type: ignore[assignment]
+    return label, color
+
+
+def _label_step(screen: Any, default_label: str) -> str:
+    """Step 1: edit the label. First printable key replaces the
+    pre-fill; subsequent keys append. Enter confirms."""
+    text = default_label
+    replaced = False  # True once the user has typed their first char
+
+    while True:
+        _render_label(screen, text)
+        try:
+            key = screen.getch()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            return default_label
+
+        if key in (curses.KEY_ENTER, _KEY_ENTER_ALT, ord("\r")):
+            return text.strip() or default_label
+
+        if key in (curses.KEY_BACKSPACE, _KEY_BACKSPACE_WIN, 127):
+            if replaced:
+                text = text[:-1]
+            else:
+                text = ""
+                replaced = True
+
+        elif 32 <= key <= 126:
+            if not replaced:
+                text = chr(key)
+                replaced = True
+            else:
+                text += chr(key)
+
+
+def _render_label(screen: Any, text: str) -> None:
+    screen.erase()
+    rows, cols = screen.getmaxyx()
+    sep = "─" * min(cols - 1, 40)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 0, 0, "Name agent", curses.A_BOLD)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 1, 0, sep)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 2, 0, text[:cols - 1], curses.A_REVERSE)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 3, 0, sep)
+    if rows > 5:
+        _addstr_safe(screen, 5, 0, "[any key] edit  [Enter] confirm", curses.A_DIM)
+    screen.refresh()
+
+
+def _color_step(screen: Any, confirmed_label: str) -> str:
+    """Step 2: pick a color from the list, or skip."""
+    items = [_COLOR_NONE] + _ANSI_COLORS
+    cursor = 0
+
+    # Initialise color pairs once; index 0 = none, 1..16 = palette.
+    color_attrs = _init_color_pairs()
+
+    while True:
+        _render_color(screen, items, cursor, confirmed_label, color_attrs)
+        try:
+            key = screen.getch()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            return ""
+
+        if key in (ord("q"), _KEY_ESC):
+            return ""
+
+        if key in (curses.KEY_ENTER, _KEY_ENTER_ALT, ord("\r")):
+            chosen = items[cursor]
+            return "" if chosen == _COLOR_NONE else chosen
+
+        if key in (curses.KEY_UP, ord("k")) and cursor > 0:
+            cursor -= 1
+        elif key in (curses.KEY_DOWN, ord("j")) and cursor < len(items) - 1:
+            cursor += 1
+
+
+def _init_color_pairs() -> dict[str, int]:
+    """Return {color_name: curses_attr} for the palette items."""
+    attrs: dict[str, int] = {_COLOR_NONE: curses.A_NORMAL}
+    try:
+        curses.start_color()
+        curses.use_default_colors()
+        pair_idx = 2  # pair 1 reserved for other uses
+        for name in _ANSI_COLORS:
+            base = name.replace("bright-", "")
+            fg = _CURSES_COLOR_MAP.get(base, curses.COLOR_WHITE)
+            try:
+                curses.init_pair(pair_idx, fg, -1)
+                attr = curses.color_pair(pair_idx)
+                if name.startswith("bright-"):
+                    attr |= curses.A_BOLD
+                attrs[name] = attr
+                pair_idx += 1
+            except curses.error:
+                attrs[name] = curses.A_NORMAL
+    except curses.error:
+        for name in _ANSI_COLORS:
+            attrs[name] = curses.A_NORMAL
+    return attrs
+
+
+def _render_color(
+    screen: Any,
+    items: list[str],
+    cursor: int,
+    confirmed_label: str,
+    color_attrs: dict[str, int],
+) -> None:
+    screen.erase()
+    rows, cols = screen.getmaxyx()
+    sep = "─" * min(cols - 1, 40)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 0, 0, "Name agent", curses.A_BOLD)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 1, 0, sep)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 2, 0, confirmed_label[:cols - 1])
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 3, 0, sep)
+    _addstr_safe(screen, 4, 0, "Color (optional)", curses.A_BOLD)
+
+    list_start = 5
+    list_rows = rows - list_start - 2
+    scroll = max(0, cursor - list_rows + 1)
+    visible = items[scroll: scroll + list_rows]
+
+    for idx, name in enumerate(visible):
+        abs_idx = scroll + idx
+        row = list_start + idx
+        if row >= rows - 2:
+            break
+        prefix = "> " if abs_idx == cursor else "  "
+        attr = color_attrs.get(name, curses.A_NORMAL)
+        if abs_idx == cursor:
+            attr |= curses.A_REVERSE
+        _addstr_safe(screen, row, 0, (prefix + name)[:cols - 1], attr)
+
+    _addstr_safe(screen, rows - 2, 0, sep)
+    _addstr_safe(
+        screen, rows - 1, 0,
+        "[↑↓/jk] move  [Enter] select  [Esc/q] skip",
+        curses.A_DIM,
+    )
+    screen.refresh()
diff --git a/bot_bottle/contrib/claude/agent_provider.py b/bot_bottle/contrib/claude/agent_provider.py
index 17f2de7..7de7ff1 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/contrib/claude/agent_provider.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/contrib/claude/agent_provider.py
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ class ClaudeAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         forward_host_credentials: bool = False,
         host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
         trusted_project_path: str = "",
+        label: str = "",
+        color: str = "",
     ) -> AgentProvisionPlan:
         del forward_host_credentials, host_env  # Codex-only knobs
         resolved_guest_env = dict(guest_env or {})
@@ -80,12 +82,17 @@ class ClaudeAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         claude_config = state_dir / "claude.json"
         claude_projects = {guest_home: {"hasTrustDialogAccepted": True}}
         claude_projects[trusted_path] = {"hasTrustDialogAccepted": True}
-        claude_config.write_text(json.dumps({
+        payload: dict[str, object] = {
             "hasCompletedOnboarding": True,
             "theme": "dark",
             "bypassPermissionsModeAccepted": True,
             "projects": claude_projects,
-        }, indent=2) + "\n")
+        }
+        if label:
+            payload["name"] = label
+        if color:
+            payload["color"] = color
+        claude_config.write_text(json.dumps(payload, indent=2) + "\n")
         claude_config.chmod(0o600)
         files = (
             AgentProvisionFile(claude_config, f"{guest_home}/.claude.json"),
diff --git a/bot_bottle/contrib/codex/agent_provider.py b/bot_bottle/contrib/codex/agent_provider.py
index ef63d66..b97d11d 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/contrib/codex/agent_provider.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/contrib/codex/agent_provider.py
@@ -76,8 +76,10 @@ class CodexAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         forward_host_credentials: bool = False,
         host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
         trusted_project_path: str = "",
+        label: str = "",
+        color: str = "",
     ) -> AgentProvisionPlan:
-        del auth_token  # Claude-only knob
+        del auth_token, label, color  # Claude-only knobs
         resolved_guest_env = dict(guest_env or {})
         trusted_path = trusted_project_path or guest_home