diff --git a/devplacepy/schemas/content.py b/devplacepy/schemas/content.py
index 14ef907a..a5d15b88 100644
--- a/devplacepy/schemas/content.py
+++ b/devplacepy/schemas/content.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
+from pydantic import ConfigDict, Field
+
 from devplacepy.schemas.base import _Out
 
 
@@ -64,8 +66,9 @@ class PollOut(_Out):
 
 
 class BadgeOut(_Out):
-    name: Optional[str] = None
+    name: Optional[str] = Field(None, alias="badge_name")
     created_at: Optional[str] = None
+    model_config = ConfigDict(populate_by_name=True)
 
 
 class PostOut(_Out):
diff --git a/tests/api/profile/search.py b/tests/api/profile/search.py
index 3115a2cb..01333631 100644
--- a/tests/api/profile/search.py
+++ b/tests/api/profile/search.py
@@ -271,3 +271,43 @@ def test_profile_renders_heatmap_and_streak(app_server):
     html = s.get(f"{BASE_URL}/profile/{name}").text
     assert "heatmap-grid" in html
     assert "1 day streak" in html
+
+
+def test_profile_badges_json_has_non_null_names(app_server):
+    import time
+    from devplacepy.database import get_table, refresh_snapshot
+    from devplacepy.utils import award_badge
+
+    name = f"bdg{int(time.time() * 1000)}"
+    session = requests.Session()
+    session.post(
+        f"{BASE_URL}/auth/signup",
+        data={
+            "username": name,
+            "email": f"{name}@t.dev",
+            "password": "secret123",
+            "confirm_password": "secret123",
+        },
+        allow_redirects=True,
+    )
+    refresh_snapshot()
+    user = get_table("users").find_one(username=name)
+    assert user, f"user {name} not found after signup"
+    award_badge(user["uid"], "First Post")
+    award_badge(user["uid"], "Member")
+    refresh_snapshot()
+    r = session.get(
+        f"{BASE_URL}/profile/{name}", headers={"Accept": "application/json"}
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert "badges" in body, "badges key missing from profile JSON"
+    assert isinstance(body["badges"], list), "badges is not a list"
+    assert len(body["badges"]) >= 2, f"expected at least 2 badges, got {len(body['badges'])}"
+    for badge in body["badges"]:
+        assert "name" in badge, f"badge missing name key: {badge}"
+        assert badge["name"] is not None, f"badge name is null: {badge}"
+        assert isinstance(badge["name"], str), f"badge name is not a string: {badge}"
+        assert len(badge["name"]) > 0, f"badge name is empty: {badge}"
+
+