diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
index 28861267b..7bb4e6cb0 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public abstract class ChatChannelManager
     public void speak (ClientObject caller, final ChatChannel channel, String message, byte mode)
     {
         final UserMessage umsg = new UserMessage(
-            ((BodyObject)caller).getVisibleName(), null, message, mode);
+            ((BodyObject)caller).getChatName(), null, message, mode);
 
         // if we're hosting this channel, dispatch it directly
         if (_channels.containsKey(channel)) {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
index 93beaf40f..125793bb4 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ public class ChatProvider
         // make sure the requesting user has broadcast privileges
         InvocationException.requireAccess(caller, ChatCodes.BROADCAST_ACCESS);
         BodyObject body = (BodyObject)caller;
-        broadcast(body.getVisibleName(), null, message, false, true);
+        broadcast(body.getChatName(), null, message, false, true);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ public class ChatProvider
      */
     protected UserMessage createTellMessage (BodyObject source, String message)
     {
-        return new UserMessage(source.getVisibleName(), message);
+        return new UserMessage(source.getChatName(), message);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakHandler.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakHandler.java
index 245707f80..4b5d3dd25 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakHandler.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakHandler.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public class SpeakHandler
 
         } else {
             // issue the speak message on our speak object
-            SpeakUtil.sendSpeak(_speakObj, source.getVisibleName(), null, message, mode);
+            SpeakUtil.sendSpeak(_speakObj, source.getChatName(), null, message, mode);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
index 6e41f5a13..55ce9e282 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public class BodyObject extends ClientObject
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns the name that should be displayed to other users and used for the chat system. The
+     * Returns the name that should be displayed to other users. The
      * default is to use {@link #username}.
      */
     public Name getVisibleName ()
@@ -102,6 +102,15 @@ public class BodyObject extends ClientObject
         return username;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the name that should be used for the chat system. The
+     * default is to use {@link #username}.
+     */
+    public Name getChatName ()
+    {
+        return getVisibleName();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a blank occupant info instance that will used to publish information about the
      * various bodies occupying a place.