diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index a79d599..5c38567 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -1788,12 +1788,37 @@ int main(int, char **)
                     SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 255, 220, 0, 255);
                     SDL_RenderRect(renderer, &inputRect);
 
-                    // Player Name (with cursor)
-                    std::string display = playerName;
-                    if ((SDL_GetTicks() / 500) % 2 == 0) display += "_"; // Blink cursor
-                    
-                    int nW=0, nH=0; pixelFont.measure(display, 1.2f, nW, nH);
-                    pixelFont.draw(renderer, inputX + (inputW - nW) * 0.5f + contentOffsetX, inputY + (inputH - nH) * 0.5f + contentOffsetY, display, 1.2f, {255, 255, 255, 255});
+                    // Player Name (blink cursor without shifting text)
+                    const float nameScale = 1.2f;
+                    const bool showCursor = ((SDL_GetTicks() / 500) % 2) == 0;
+
+                    int metricsW = 0, metricsH = 0;
+                    pixelFont.measure("A", nameScale, metricsW, metricsH);
+                    if (metricsH == 0) metricsH = 24; // fallback height
+
+                    int nameW = 0, nameH = 0;
+                    if (!playerName.empty()) {
+                        pixelFont.measure(playerName, nameScale, nameW, nameH);
+                    } else {
+                        nameH = metricsH;
+                    }
+
+                    float textX = inputX + (inputW - static_cast<float>(nameW)) * 0.5f + contentOffsetX;
+                    float textY = inputY + (inputH - static_cast<float>(metricsH)) * 0.5f + contentOffsetY;
+
+                    if (!playerName.empty()) {
+                        pixelFont.draw(renderer, textX, textY, playerName, nameScale, {255, 255, 255, 255});
+                    }
+
+                    if (showCursor) {
+                        int cursorW = 0, cursorH = 0;
+                        pixelFont.measure("_", nameScale, cursorW, cursorH);
+                        float cursorX = playerName.empty()
+                            ? inputX + (inputW - static_cast<float>(cursorW)) * 0.5f + contentOffsetX
+                            : textX + static_cast<float>(nameW);
+                        float cursorY = inputY + (inputH - static_cast<float>(cursorH)) * 0.5f + contentOffsetY;
+                        pixelFont.draw(renderer, cursorX, cursorY, "_", nameScale, {255, 255, 255, 255});
+                    }
 
                     // Hint
                     const char* hint = "PRESS ENTER TO SUBMIT";