diff --git a/src/basic_memory/cli/commands/project.py b/src/basic_memory/cli/commands/project.py
index 787f30cb..cee14d59 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/cli/commands/project.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/cli/commands/project.py
@@ -253,6 +253,12 @@ async def _list_projects(ws: str | None = None):
             if cloud_project is not None and cloud_ws_name:
                 ws_label = f"{cloud_ws_name} ({cloud_ws_type})" if cloud_ws_type else cloud_ws_name
 
+            # display_name is a human label for private UUID-named projects (e.g., "My Project").
+            # Keep "name" as the canonical identifier for scripting/JSON consumers;
+            # the Rich table uses display_name when available.
+            display_name = (
+                cloud_project.display_name if cloud_project and cloud_project.display_name else None
+            )
             row_data = {
                 "name": project_name,
                 "permalink": permalink,
@@ -263,6 +269,8 @@ async def _list_projects(ws: str | None = None):
                 "sync": has_sync,
                 "is_default": is_default,
             }
+            if display_name:
+                row_data["display_name"] = display_name
             if ws_label:
                 row_data["workspace"] = cloud_ws_name or ""
                 if cloud_ws_type:
@@ -278,7 +286,7 @@ async def _list_projects(ws: str | None = None):
         # --- Rich table output ---
         for row_data in project_rows:
             table.add_row(
-                row_data["name"],
+                row_data.get("display_name") or row_data["name"],
                 row_data["local_path"],
                 row_data["cloud_path"],
                 row_data.get("workspace", "")
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_project_list_and_ls.py b/tests/cli/test_project_list_and_ls.py
index ca4dca0a..6e5cbbd1 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_project_list_and_ls.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_project_list_and_ls.py
@@ -139,6 +139,82 @@ async def fake_list_projects(self):
     assert "/beta" in result.stdout
 
 
+def test_project_list_shows_display_name_for_private_projects(
+    runner: CliRunner, write_config, mock_client, tmp_path, monkeypatch
+):
+    """Private projects should show display_name ('My Project') instead of raw UUID name."""
+    private_uuid = "f1df8f39-d5aa-4095-ae05-8c5a2883029a"
+
+    write_config(
+        {
+            "env": "dev",
+            "projects": {},
+            "default_project": "main",
+            "cloud_api_key": "bmc_test_key_123",
+        }
+    )
+
+    local_payload = {
+        "projects": [
+            {
+                "id": 1,
+                "external_id": "11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111",
+                "name": "main",
+                "path": "/main",
+                "is_default": True,
+            }
+        ],
+        "default_project": "main",
+    }
+
+    cloud_payload = {
+        "projects": [
+            {
+                "id": 1,
+                "external_id": "11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111",
+                "name": "main",
+                "path": "/main",
+                "is_default": True,
+            },
+            {
+                "id": 2,
+                "external_id": "22222222-2222-2222-2222-222222222222",
+                "name": private_uuid,
+                "path": f"/{private_uuid}",
+                "is_default": False,
+                "display_name": "My Project",
+                "is_private": True,
+            },
+        ],
+        "default_project": "main",
+    }
+
+    async def fake_list_projects(self):
+        if os.getenv("BASIC_MEMORY_FORCE_CLOUD", "").lower() in ("true", "1", "yes"):
+            return ProjectList.model_validate(cloud_payload)
+        return ProjectList.model_validate(local_payload)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ProjectClient, "list_projects", fake_list_projects)
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["project", "list"], env={"COLUMNS": "240"})
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, f"Exit code: {result.exit_code}, output: {result.stdout}"
+    # Rich table should show display_name in the Name column
+    assert "My Project" in result.stdout
+    lines = result.stdout.splitlines()
+    project_line = next(line for line in lines if "My Project" in line)
+    name_cell = project_line.split("│")[1].strip()
+    assert name_cell == "My Project"
+
+    # JSON output should preserve canonical name for scripting, with display_name as separate field
+    json_result = runner.invoke(app, ["project", "list", "--json"], env={"COLUMNS": "240"})
+    assert json_result.exit_code == 0
+    data = json.loads(json_result.stdout)
+    private_project = next(p for p in data["projects"] if p.get("display_name") == "My Project")
+    assert private_project["name"] == private_uuid
+    assert private_project["display_name"] == "My Project"
+
+
 def test_project_ls_local_mode_defaults_to_local_route(
     runner: CliRunner, write_config, mock_client, tmp_path, monkeypatch
 ):