diff --git a/hscontrol/auth.go b/hscontrol/auth.go
index aaab03ce..8b8557ba 100644
--- a/hscontrol/auth.go
+++ b/hscontrol/auth.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func (h *Headscale) handleRegister(
 	regReq tailcfg.RegisterRequest,
 	machineKey key.MachinePublic,
 ) {
-	logInfo, logTrace, logErr := logAuthFunc(regReq, machineKey)
+	logInfo, logTrace, _ := logAuthFunc(regReq, machineKey)
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 	logTrace("handleRegister called, looking up machine in DB")
 	node, err := h.db.GetNodeByAnyKey(machineKey, regReq.NodeKey, regReq.OldNodeKey)
@@ -105,16 +105,6 @@ func (h *Headscale) handleRegister(
 
 		logInfo("Node not found in database, creating new")
 
-		givenName, err := h.db.GenerateGivenName(
-			machineKey,
-			regReq.Hostinfo.Hostname,
-		)
-		if err != nil {
-			logErr(err, "Failed to generate given name for node")
-
-			return
-		}
-
 		// The node did not have a key to authenticate, which means
 		// that we rely on a method that calls back some how (OpenID or CLI)
 		// We create the node and then keep it around until a callback
@@ -122,7 +112,6 @@ func (h *Headscale) handleRegister(
 		newNode := types.Node{
 			MachineKey: machineKey,
 			Hostname:   regReq.Hostinfo.Hostname,
-			GivenName:  givenName,
 			NodeKey:    regReq.NodeKey,
 			LastSeen:   &now,
 			Expiry:     &time.Time{},
@@ -354,21 +343,8 @@ func (h *Headscale) handleAuthKey(
 	} else {
 		now := time.Now().UTC()
 
-		givenName, err := h.db.GenerateGivenName(machineKey, registerRequest.Hostinfo.Hostname)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error().
-				Caller().
-				Str("func", "RegistrationHandler").
-				Str("hostinfo.name", registerRequest.Hostinfo.Hostname).
-				Err(err).
-				Msg("Failed to generate given name for node")
-
-			return
-		}
-
 		nodeToRegister := types.Node{
 			Hostname:       registerRequest.Hostinfo.Hostname,
-			GivenName:      givenName,
 			UserID:         pak.User.ID,
 			User:           pak.User,
 			MachineKey:     machineKey,
diff --git a/hscontrol/db/node.go b/hscontrol/db/node.go
index a9e78a45..c0f42de1 100644
--- a/hscontrol/db/node.go
+++ b/hscontrol/db/node.go
@@ -90,20 +90,6 @@ func (hsdb *HSDatabase) ListEphemeralNodes() (types.Nodes, error) {
 	})
 }
 
-func listNodesByGivenName(tx *gorm.DB, givenName string) (types.Nodes, error) {
-	nodes := types.Nodes{}
-	if err := tx.
-		Preload("AuthKey").
-		Preload("AuthKey.User").
-		Preload("User").
-		Preload("Routes").
-		Where("given_name = ?", givenName).Find(&nodes).Error; err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return nodes, nil
-}
-
 func (hsdb *HSDatabase) getNode(user string, name string) (*types.Node, error) {
 	return Read(hsdb.DB, func(rx *gorm.DB) (*types.Node, error) {
 		return getNode(rx, user, name)
@@ -242,9 +228,9 @@ func SetTags(
 }
 
 // RenameNode takes a Node struct and a new GivenName for the nodes
-// and renames it.
+// and renames it. If the name is not unique, it will return an error.
 func RenameNode(tx *gorm.DB,
-	nodeID uint64, newName string,
+	nodeID types.NodeID, newName string,
 ) error {
 	err := util.CheckForFQDNRules(
 		newName,
@@ -253,6 +239,15 @@ func RenameNode(tx *gorm.DB,
 		return fmt.Errorf("renaming node: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	uniq, err := isUnqiueName(tx, newName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking if name is unique: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if !uniq {
+		return fmt.Errorf("name is not unique: %s", newName)
+	}
+
 	if err := tx.Model(&types.Node{}).Where("id = ?", nodeID).Update("given_name", newName).Error; err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename node in the database: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -415,6 +410,15 @@ func RegisterNode(tx *gorm.DB, node types.Node, ipv4 *netip.Addr, ipv6 *netip.Ad
 	node.IPv4 = ipv4
 	node.IPv6 = ipv6
 
+	if node.GivenName == "" {
+		givenName, err := ensureUniqueGivenName(tx, node.Hostname)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to ensure unique given name: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		node.GivenName = givenName
+	}
+
 	if err := tx.Save(&node).Error; err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed register(save) node in the database: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -642,40 +646,32 @@ func generateGivenName(suppliedName string, randomSuffix bool) (string, error) {
 	return normalizedHostname, nil
 }
 
-func (hsdb *HSDatabase) GenerateGivenName(
-	mkey key.MachinePublic,
-	suppliedName string,
-) (string, error) {
-	return Read(hsdb.DB, func(rx *gorm.DB) (string, error) {
-		return GenerateGivenName(rx, mkey, suppliedName)
-	})
+func isUnqiueName(tx *gorm.DB, name string) (bool, error) {
+	nodes := types.Nodes{}
+	if err := tx.
+		Where("given_name = ?", name).Find(&nodes).Error; err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	return len(nodes) == 0, nil
 }
 
-func GenerateGivenName(
+func ensureUniqueGivenName(
 	tx *gorm.DB,
-	mkey key.MachinePublic,
-	suppliedName string,
+	name string,
 ) (string, error) {
-	givenName, err := generateGivenName(suppliedName, false)
+	givenName, err := generateGivenName(name, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	// Tailscale rules (may differ) https://tailscale.com/kb/1098/machine-names/
-	nodes, err := listNodesByGivenName(tx, givenName)
+	unique, err := isUnqiueName(tx, givenName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	var nodeFound *types.Node
-	for idx, node := range nodes {
-		if node.GivenName == givenName {
-			nodeFound = nodes[idx]
-		}
-	}
-
-	if nodeFound != nil && nodeFound.MachineKey.String() != mkey.String() {
-		postfixedName, err := generateGivenName(suppliedName, true)
+	if !unique {
+		postfixedName, err := generateGivenName(name, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
diff --git a/hscontrol/db/node_test.go b/hscontrol/db/node_test.go
index 94cce13b..bafb22ba 100644
--- a/hscontrol/db/node_test.go
+++ b/hscontrol/db/node_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/puzpuzpuz/xsync/v3"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"gopkg.in/check.v1"
+	"gorm.io/gorm"
 	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
 	"tailscale.com/types/key"
 	"tailscale.com/types/ptr"
@@ -313,51 +314,6 @@ func (s *Suite) TestExpireNode(c *check.C) {
 	c.Assert(nodeFromDB.IsExpired(), check.Equals, true)
 }
 
-func (s *Suite) TestGenerateGivenName(c *check.C) {
-	user1, err := db.CreateUser("user-1")
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
-
-	pak, err := db.CreatePreAuthKey(user1.Name, false, false, nil, nil)
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
-
-	_, err = db.getNode("user-1", "testnode")
-	c.Assert(err, check.NotNil)
-
-	nodeKey := key.NewNode()
-	machineKey := key.NewMachine()
-
-	machineKey2 := key.NewMachine()
-
-	node := &types.Node{
-		ID:             0,
-		MachineKey:     machineKey.Public(),
-		NodeKey:        nodeKey.Public(),
-		Hostname:       "hostname-1",
-		GivenName:      "hostname-1",
-		UserID:         user1.ID,
-		RegisterMethod: util.RegisterMethodAuthKey,
-		AuthKeyID:      ptr.To(pak.ID),
-	}
-
-	trx := db.DB.Save(node)
-	c.Assert(trx.Error, check.IsNil)
-
-	givenName, err := db.GenerateGivenName(machineKey2.Public(), "hostname-2")
-	comment := check.Commentf("Same user, unique nodes, unique hostnames, no conflict")
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil, comment)
-	c.Assert(givenName, check.Equals, "hostname-2", comment)
-
-	givenName, err = db.GenerateGivenName(machineKey.Public(), "hostname-1")
-	comment = check.Commentf("Same user, same node, same hostname, no conflict")
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil, comment)
-	c.Assert(givenName, check.Equals, "hostname-1", comment)
-
-	givenName, err = db.GenerateGivenName(machineKey2.Public(), "hostname-1")
-	comment = check.Commentf("Same user, unique nodes, same hostname, conflict")
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil, comment)
-	c.Assert(givenName, check.Matches, fmt.Sprintf("^hostname-1-[a-z0-9]{%d}$", NodeGivenNameHashLength), comment)
-}
-
 func (s *Suite) TestSetTags(c *check.C) {
 	user, err := db.CreateUser("test")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
@@ -778,3 +734,100 @@ func TestListEphemeralNodes(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, nodeEph.UserID, ephemeralNodes[0].UserID)
 	assert.Equal(t, nodeEph.Hostname, ephemeralNodes[0].Hostname)
 }
+
+func TestRenameNode(t *testing.T) {
+	db, err := newTestDB()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("creating db: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	user, err := db.CreateUser("test")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	user2, err := db.CreateUser("test2")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	node := types.Node{
+		ID:             0,
+		MachineKey:     key.NewMachine().Public(),
+		NodeKey:        key.NewNode().Public(),
+		Hostname:       "test",
+		UserID:         user.ID,
+		RegisterMethod: util.RegisterMethodAuthKey,
+	}
+
+	node2 := types.Node{
+		ID:             0,
+		MachineKey:     key.NewMachine().Public(),
+		NodeKey:        key.NewNode().Public(),
+		Hostname:       "test",
+		UserID:         user2.ID,
+		RegisterMethod: util.RegisterMethodAuthKey,
+	}
+
+	err = db.DB.Save(&node).Error
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = db.DB.Save(&node2).Error
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = db.DB.Transaction(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
+		_, err := RegisterNode(tx, node, nil, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		_, err = RegisterNode(tx, node2, nil, nil)
+		return err
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	nodes, err := db.ListNodes()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Len(t, nodes, 2)
+
+	t.Logf("node1 %s %s", nodes[0].Hostname, nodes[0].GivenName)
+	t.Logf("node2 %s %s", nodes[1].Hostname, nodes[1].GivenName)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].Hostname, nodes[0].GivenName)
+	assert.NotEqual(t, nodes[1].Hostname, nodes[1].GivenName)
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].Hostname, nodes[1].Hostname)
+	assert.NotEqual(t, nodes[0].Hostname, nodes[1].GivenName)
+	assert.Contains(t, nodes[1].GivenName, nodes[0].Hostname)
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].GivenName, nodes[1].Hostname)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes[0].Hostname, 4)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes[1].Hostname, 4)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes[0].GivenName, 4)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes[1].GivenName, 13)
+
+	// Nodes can be renamed to a unique name
+	err = db.Write(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
+		return RenameNode(tx, nodes[0].ID, "newname")
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	nodes, err = db.ListNodes()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes, 2)
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].Hostname, "test")
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].GivenName, "newname")
+
+	// Nodes can reuse name that is no longer used
+	err = db.Write(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
+		return RenameNode(tx, nodes[1].ID, "test")
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	nodes, err = db.ListNodes()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, nodes, 2)
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].Hostname, "test")
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[0].GivenName, "newname")
+	assert.Equal(t, nodes[1].GivenName, "test")
+
+	// Nodes cannot be renamed to used names
+	err = db.Write(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
+		return RenameNode(tx, nodes[0].ID, "test")
+	})
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "name is not unique")
+}
diff --git a/hscontrol/grpcv1.go b/hscontrol/grpcv1.go
index 3f985d98..596748f2 100644
--- a/hscontrol/grpcv1.go
+++ b/hscontrol/grpcv1.go
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ func (api headscaleV1APIServer) RenameNode(
 	node, err := db.Write(api.h.db.DB, func(tx *gorm.DB) (*types.Node, error) {
 		err := db.RenameNode(
 			tx,
-			request.GetNodeId(),
+			types.NodeID(request.GetNodeId()),
 			request.GetNewName(),
 		)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -802,18 +802,12 @@ func (api headscaleV1APIServer) DebugCreateNode(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	givenName, err := api.h.db.GenerateGivenName(mkey, request.GetName())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	nodeKey := key.NewNode()
 
 	newNode := types.Node{
 		MachineKey: mkey,
 		NodeKey:    nodeKey.Public(),
 		Hostname:   request.GetName(),
-		GivenName:  givenName,
 		User:       *user,
 
 		Expiry:   &time.Time{},