diff --git a/mobile/src/tasks/blank-workspace-create.ts b/mobile/src/tasks/blank-workspace-create.ts
index a84ac55a3a1..d81d75d5a69 100644
--- a/mobile/src/tasks/blank-workspace-create.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/tasks/blank-workspace-create.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export async function createBlankWorkspace(args: {
   return createWorktreeWithNameRetry({
     client: args.client,
     baseName: args.baseName,
+    nameWasGenerated: args.nameWasGenerated,
     supportsIdempotentCutoverRetry: args.supportsIdempotentCutoverRetry,
     buildParams: (name) => {
       const params: Record<string, unknown> = {
diff --git a/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.test.ts b/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.test.ts
index a03be2ad24b..35fa050b620 100644
--- a/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.test.ts
@@ -154,6 +154,25 @@ describe('createWorktreeWithNameRetry', () => {
     expect(attempts[1]!.params.name).toBe('topic-2')
   })
 
+  it('advances generated retries without nesting suffixes', async () => {
+    const attempts: Attempt[] = []
+    const client = scriptedClient(
+      [{ errorMessage: 'already exists locally' }, { id: 'wt-generated' }],
+      attempts
+    )
+
+    const result = await createWorktreeWithNameRetry({
+      client,
+      baseName: 'nautilus-2',
+      nameWasGenerated: true,
+      buildParams: (name) => ({ repo: 'id:r', name, nameWasGenerated: true }),
+      supportsIdempotentCutoverRetry: false
+    })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ worktreeId: 'wt-generated', name: 'nautilus-3' })
+    expect(attempts.map((attempt) => attempt.params.name)).toEqual(['nautilus-2', 'nautilus-3'])
+  })
+
   it('does not replay an ambiguous cutover when the host lacks idempotency support', async () => {
     const attempts: Attempt[] = []
     const client = scriptedClient([{ throws: new LogicalClientCutoverError() }], attempts)
diff --git a/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.ts b/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.ts
index ccc46f2057b..6cee659b89f 100644
--- a/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/tasks/worktree-create-retry.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { isLogicalClientCutoverError } from '../transport/stable-logical-rpc-cli
 import {
   CLIENT_WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_ATTEMPTS,
   getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate,
   isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict
 } from '../../../src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy'
 import { WORKTREE_CREATE_TIMEOUT_MS } from './workspace-create-timeout'
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ const WORKTREE_CREATE_CUTOVER_MAX_RETRIES = 5
 export type CreateWorktreeWithNameRetryArgs = {
   client: RpcClient
   baseName: string
+  nameWasGenerated?: boolean
   buildParams: (name: string) => Record<string, unknown>
   supportsIdempotentCutoverRetry: boolean | Promise<boolean>
   maxAttempts?: number
@@ -49,7 +51,9 @@ export async function createWorktreeWithNameRetry(
   const mintMutationId = args.mintMutationId ?? defaultWorktreeCreateMutationId
   let lastError: string | null = null
   for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxAttempts; attempt += 1) {
-    const candidateName = getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(baseName, attempt)
+    const candidateName = args.nameWasGenerated
+      ? getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate(baseName, attempt)
+      : getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(baseName, attempt)
     const candidateParams = buildParams(candidateName)
     // Why: older hosts strip unknown fields, so only stamp and replay when the
     // host advertises idempotency. One key per candidate makes cutover retries
diff --git a/src/main/git/remove-worktree.test.ts b/src/main/git/remove-worktree.test.ts
index 15e115221ea..8ffac39e5a9 100644
--- a/src/main/git/remove-worktree.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/remove-worktree.test.ts
@@ -1600,4 +1600,46 @@ branch refs/heads/main
       'git branch -D -- feature/test'
     )
   })
+
+  it('marks cleanup failed when sparse rollback cannot clear metadata or remove the worktree', async () => {
+    mockGitCommands({
+      'git config --get push.autoSetupRemote': {
+        error: Object.assign(new Error('key unset'), { code: 1 })
+      },
+      'git sparse-checkout set -- packages/web': {
+        error: new Error('sparse setup failed')
+      },
+      'git config --local --unset-all branch.feature/test.base': {
+        error: new Error('metadata cleanup failed')
+      },
+      'git worktree list --porcelain': {
+        stdout: `worktree /repo
+HEAD abc123
+branch refs/heads/main
+
+worktree /repo-feature
+HEAD def456
+branch refs/heads/feature/test
+`
+      },
+      'git worktree remove --force /repo-feature': {
+        error: new Error('worktree cleanup failed')
+      }
+    })
+
+    const error = await addSparseWorktree('/repo', '/repo-feature', 'feature/test', [
+      'packages/web'
+    ]).catch((caught: unknown) => caught)
+
+    expect(error).toMatchObject({
+      cleanupFailed: true,
+      message: expect.stringContaining('cleanup also failed')
+    })
+    const calls = getGitCalls()
+    expectGitCallOrder(
+      calls,
+      'git config --local --unset-all branch.feature/test.base',
+      'git worktree remove --force /repo-feature'
+    )
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree.ts b/src/main/git/worktree.ts
index 005be57351f..b498ebefc6d 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree.ts
@@ -1067,7 +1067,14 @@ export async function addSparseWorktree(
       error instanceof Error ? (error as SparseWorktreeCreateError) : new Error(String(error))
     if (created) {
       if (!options.checkoutExistingBranch) {
-        await unsetWorktreeCreationBase(worktreePath, branch, options)
+        try {
+          await unsetWorktreeCreationBase(worktreePath, branch, options)
+        } catch (cleanupError) {
+          console.warn(
+            `addSparseWorktree: failed to clear creation base for ${worktreePath}`,
+            cleanupError
+          )
+        }
       }
       try {
         await removeWorktree(repoPath, worktreePath, true, {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts b/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
index dd0f2e6d4d4..0896ae0a0da 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
@@ -136,10 +136,16 @@ import {
 } from '../project-runtime-git-options'
 import {
   getBranchNameOverrideCandidate,
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate,
   getWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName,
   WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS
 } from '../worktree-create-candidates'
-import { getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo } from '../worktree-name-retirement'
+import {
+  failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement,
+  getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo,
+  retireGeneratedWorktreeName
+} from '../worktree-name-retirement'
 import { createRetiredNameLookup } from '../../shared/worktree/retired-name-registry'
 
 const SSH_WORKTREE_CREATE_FETCH_FRESHNESS_MS = 30_000
@@ -1556,20 +1562,30 @@ export async function createRemoteWorktree(
   let selectedExistingLocalBranchName: string | null = null
   let lastBranchConflictKind: 'local' | 'remote' | null = null
   let remotePathResolved = false
-  const isRetiredName = args.nameWasGenerated
-    ? createRetiredNameLookup(
-        getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repo, store.getRepos(), settings)
-      )
+  const shouldRetireGeneratedName =
+    args.nameWasGenerated === true && isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName(sanitizedName)
+  const retiredNameRegistry = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+    ? await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repo, store.getRepos(), settings)
     : null
+  const isRetiredName = retiredNameRegistry ? createRetiredNameLookup(retiredNameRegistry) : null
   // Why: duplicate PR/MR checkouts still need a workspace; suffix branch/path while preserving review metadata and push target.
-  for (let suffix = 1; suffix <= WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS; suffix += 1) {
-    effectiveSanitizedName = getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
-    effectiveRequestedName = args.name.trim()
-      ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(args.name, suffix)
-      : effectiveSanitizedName
+  for (let suffix = 1, attempts = 0; attempts < WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS; suffix += 1) {
+    effectiveSanitizedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+      ? getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate(
+          sanitizedName,
+          suffix,
+          retiredNameRegistry?.exhaustedTiers
+        )
+      : getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
+    effectiveRequestedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+      ? effectiveSanitizedName
+      : args.name.trim()
+        ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(args.name, suffix)
+        : effectiveSanitizedName
     if (isRetiredName?.(effectiveSanitizedName)) {
       continue
     }
+    attempts += 1
     branchName = await resolveCreateBranchNameSsh(
       provider,
       repo.path,
@@ -1749,20 +1765,39 @@ export async function createRemoteWorktree(
       await provider.exec(['sparse-checkout', 'set', '--', ...sparseDirectories], remotePath)
       await provider.exec(['checkout', branchName], remotePath)
     } catch (err) {
+      let rollbackSucceeded = false
       if (!checkoutExistingBranch) {
-        await unsetRemoteWorktreeCreationBase(provider, remotePath, branchName)
+        try {
+          await unsetRemoteWorktreeCreationBase(provider, remotePath, branchName)
+        } catch (cleanupError) {
+          console.warn(
+            '[worktree-create] Failed to clear remote sparse creation base:',
+            cleanupError
+          )
+        }
       }
-      await provider
-        .removeWorktree(remotePath, true, {
+      try {
+        await provider.removeWorktree(remotePath, true, {
           deleteBranch: !checkoutExistingBranch,
           // Why: sparse setup failed before any work happened, so rollback removes the just-created remote branch.
           forceBranchDelete: !checkoutExistingBranch
         })
-        .catch(() => undefined)
+        rollbackSucceeded = true
+      } catch (rollbackError) {
+        console.warn('[worktree-create] Failed to roll back remote sparse worktree:', rollbackError)
+      }
+      if (!rollbackSucceeded && shouldRetireGeneratedName) {
+        await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+      }
       throw err
     }
   }
 
+  // Why: fallible metadata work after creation must not leave a real workspace name reusable.
+  if (shouldRetireGeneratedName) {
+    await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+  }
+
   // Re-list to get the created worktree info
   const gitWorktrees = await timing.time('list_created_worktree', async () =>
     provider.listWorktrees(repo.path)
@@ -1775,10 +1810,6 @@ export async function createRemoteWorktree(
   }
 
   const worktreeId = `${repo.id}::${created.path}`
-  // Why: repo-qualified layouts decorate the physical leaf; retire the name main actually used.
-  if (args.nameWasGenerated) {
-    store.addRetiredWorktreeName(repo.id, effectiveSanitizedName)
-  }
   const now = Date.now()
   // Why: PR/MR worktrees start from a head ref/SHA but Source Control must compare against the review target branch.
   const metadataBaseRef = args.compareBaseRef ?? remoteTrackingBase?.ref ?? baseBranch
@@ -2107,20 +2138,30 @@ export async function createLocalWorktree(
   let lastBranchConflictKind: 'local' | 'remote' | null = null
   let lastExistingPR: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getPRForBranch>> | null = null
   let lastExistingReviewNumber: number | null = null
-  const isRetiredName = args.nameWasGenerated
-    ? createRetiredNameLookup(
-        getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repo, store.getRepos(), settings)
-      )
+  const shouldRetireGeneratedName =
+    args.nameWasGenerated === true && isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName(sanitizedName)
+  const retiredNameRegistry = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+    ? await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repo, store.getRepos(), settings)
     : null
+  const isRetiredName = retiredNameRegistry ? createRetiredNameLookup(retiredNameRegistry) : null
   // Why: a create-from-review branch override may already exist locally; suffix both branch and path instead of blocking the user.
-  for (let suffix = 1; suffix <= WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS; suffix += 1) {
-    effectiveSanitizedName = getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
-    effectiveRequestedName = requestedName.trim()
-      ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(requestedName, suffix)
-      : effectiveSanitizedName
+  for (let suffix = 1, attempts = 0; attempts < WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS; suffix += 1) {
+    effectiveSanitizedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+      ? getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate(
+          sanitizedName,
+          suffix,
+          retiredNameRegistry?.exhaustedTiers
+        )
+      : getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
+    effectiveRequestedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+      ? effectiveSanitizedName
+      : requestedName.trim()
+        ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(requestedName, suffix)
+        : effectiveSanitizedName
     if (isRetiredName?.(effectiveSanitizedName)) {
       continue
     }
+    attempts += 1
     lastExistingReviewNumber = null
 
     branchName = await resolveCreateBranchName(
@@ -2292,93 +2333,106 @@ export async function createLocalWorktree(
     ...remoteTrackingBaseOption,
     ...(suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate ? { suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate } : {})
   }
-  const addResult: AddWorktreeResult =
-    (await timing.time('git_worktree_add', async () => {
-      if (sparseDirectories.length > 0) {
-        if (checkoutExistingBranch) {
-          return addSparseWorktree(
-            repo.path,
-            worktreePath,
-            branchName,
-            sparseDirectories,
-            baseBranch,
-            settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-            addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
-          )
-        }
-        if (suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate) {
-          return addSparseWorktree(
-            repo.path,
-            worktreePath,
-            branchName,
-            sparseDirectories,
-            baseBranch,
-            settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-            addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
-          )
-        }
-        const sparseOptions = addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
-        return sparseOptions
-          ? addSparseWorktree(
+  let addResult: AddWorktreeResult
+  try {
+    addResult =
+      (await timing.time('git_worktree_add', async () => {
+        if (sparseDirectories.length > 0) {
+          if (checkoutExistingBranch) {
+            return addSparseWorktree(
               repo.path,
               worktreePath,
               branchName,
               sparseDirectories,
               baseBranch,
               settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-              sparseOptions
+              addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
             )
-          : addSparseWorktree(
+          }
+          if (suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate) {
+            return addSparseWorktree(
               repo.path,
               worktreePath,
               branchName,
               sparseDirectories,
               baseBranch,
-              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+              addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
             )
-      }
+          }
+          const sparseOptions = addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
+          return sparseOptions
+            ? addSparseWorktree(
+                repo.path,
+                worktreePath,
+                branchName,
+                sparseDirectories,
+                baseBranch,
+                settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+                sparseOptions
+              )
+            : addSparseWorktree(
+                repo.path,
+                worktreePath,
+                branchName,
+                sparseDirectories,
+                baseBranch,
+                settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+              )
+        }
 
-      if (checkoutExistingBranch) {
-        return addWorktree(
-          repo.path,
-          worktreePath,
-          branchName,
-          baseBranch,
-          settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-          false,
-          addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
-        )
-      }
-      if (suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate) {
-        return addWorktree(
-          repo.path,
-          worktreePath,
-          branchName,
-          baseBranch,
-          settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-          false,
-          addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
-        )
-      }
-      const worktreeOptions = addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
-      return worktreeOptions
-        ? addWorktree(
+        if (checkoutExistingBranch) {
+          return addWorktree(
             repo.path,
             worktreePath,
             branchName,
             baseBranch,
             settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
             false,
-            worktreeOptions
+            addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
           )
-        : addWorktree(
+        }
+        if (suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate) {
+          return addWorktree(
             repo.path,
             worktreePath,
             branchName,
             baseBranch,
-            settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+            settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+            false,
+            addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
           )
-    })) ?? {}
+        }
+        const worktreeOptions = addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
+        return worktreeOptions
+          ? addWorktree(
+              repo.path,
+              worktreePath,
+              branchName,
+              baseBranch,
+              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+              false,
+              worktreeOptions
+            )
+          : addWorktree(
+              repo.path,
+              worktreePath,
+              branchName,
+              baseBranch,
+              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+            )
+      })) ?? {}
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (shouldRetireGeneratedName && failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement(error)) {
+      await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+    }
+    throw error
+  }
+
+  // Why: fallible metadata work after creation must not leave a real workspace name reusable.
+  if (shouldRetireGeneratedName) {
+    await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+  }
 
   let configuredPushTarget: GitPushTarget | undefined
   if (preparedPushTarget) {
@@ -2404,10 +2458,6 @@ export async function createLocalWorktree(
   }
 
   const worktreeId = `${repo.id}::${created.path}`
-  // Why: repo-qualified layouts decorate the physical leaf; retire the name main actually used.
-  if (args.nameWasGenerated) {
-    store.addRetiredWorktreeName(repo.id, effectiveSanitizedName)
-  }
   const now = Date.now()
   // Why: PR/MR worktrees start from a head ref/SHA but Source Control must compare against the review target branch.
   const metadataBaseRef = args.compareBaseRef ?? remoteTrackingBase?.ref ?? baseBranch
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/worktrees.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/worktrees.test.ts
index 2b500118752..b7608eef09a 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/worktrees.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/worktrees.test.ts
@@ -5750,7 +5750,7 @@ describe('registerWorktreeHandlers', () => {
     )
   })
 
-  it('unsets SSH branch base config before removing a sparse worktree after setup failure', async () => {
+  it('attempts SSH base cleanup and still removes a sparse worktree when that cleanup fails', async () => {
     const repo = {
       id: 'repo-ssh',
       path: '/remote/repo',
@@ -5769,6 +5769,9 @@ describe('registerWorktreeHandlers', () => {
         if (args[0] === 'sparse-checkout' && args[1] === 'init') {
           throw setupError
         }
+        if (args[0] === 'config' && args[2] === '--unset-all') {
+          throw new Error('metadata cleanup failed')
+        }
         return { stdout: '', stderr: '' }
       }),
       fetchRemoteTrackingRef: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
@@ -8284,6 +8287,23 @@ describe('registerWorktreeHandlers', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('retires a generated sparse name when creation rollback also fails', async () => {
+    addSparseWorktreeMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(
+      Object.assign(new Error('sparse setup failed'), { cleanupFailed: true })
+    )
+
+    await expect(
+      handlers['worktrees:create'](null, {
+        repoId: 'repo-1',
+        name: 'nautilus',
+        nameWasGenerated: true,
+        sparseCheckout: { directories: ['packages/web'] }
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('sparse setup failed')
+
+    expect(store.addRetiredWorktreeName).toHaveBeenCalledWith('repo-1', 'nautilus')
+  })
+
   it('clears sparse preset attribution when the preset id does not belong to the repo', async () => {
     listWorktreesMock.mockResolvedValue([
       {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/worktrees.ts b/src/main/ipc/worktrees.ts
index 34115ce8d80..113d6860572 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/worktrees.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/worktrees.ts
@@ -121,10 +121,7 @@ import {
   isOrphanCompatiblePreflightError,
   isOrphanedWorktreeError
 } from './worktree-logic'
-import {
-  ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled,
-  getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo
-} from '../worktree-name-retirement'
+import { getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo } from '../worktree-name-retirement'
 import { EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY } from '../../shared/worktree/retired-name-registry'
 import { dedupeWorktreesByPath } from './worktree-path-comparison'
 import { joinWorktreeRelativePath } from '../runtime/runtime-relative-paths'
@@ -1944,12 +1941,6 @@ export function registerWorktreeHandlers(
     if (!repo) {
       return EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY
     }
-    try {
-      await ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled(store, repo, store.getSettings())
-    } catch (err) {
-      // Best effort: without the seed we only under-retire, which is the pre-existing behavior.
-      console.warn(`[worktrees] retirement backfill failed for repo ${args.repoId}:`, err)
-    }
     return getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repo, store.getRepos(), store.getSettings())
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-retired-name-transfer.ts b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-retired-name-transfer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7ecb952ce74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-retired-name-transfer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import type { Repo } from '../../shared/repo-types'
+import {
+  mergeRetiredNameRegistries,
+  type RetiredNameRegistry
+} from '../../shared/worktree/retired-name-registry'
+import { getRemoteRetirementNamespaceKey } from '../worktree-name-retirement'
+import type { TransferProfileState } from './profile-project-state-file'
+
+export function extractRetiredNameRegistriesByNamespace(
+  sourceState: TransferProfileState,
+  sourceRepo: Repo
+): Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry> {
+  const namespaceKey = getRemoteRetirementNamespaceKey(sourceRepo, sourceState.settings)
+  const registry = namespaceKey
+    ? sourceState.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace?.[namespaceKey]
+    : undefined
+  return namespaceKey && registry ? { [namespaceKey]: registry } : {}
+}
+
+export function mergeRetiredNameRegistryMaps(
+  base: Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry>,
+  incoming: Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry>
+): Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry> {
+  const merged = { ...base }
+  for (const [key, registry] of Object.entries(incoming)) {
+    merged[key] = merged[key] ? mergeRetiredNameRegistries(merged[key], registry) : registry
+  }
+  return merged
+}
diff --git a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-state-file.ts b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-state-file.ts
index e72babef2f4..5c623f19bad 100644
--- a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-state-file.ts
+++ b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-state-file.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ export function readProfileState(profileId: string, userDataPath: string): Trans
     retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo: recordOrEmpty<RetiredNameRegistry>(
       parsed.retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo
     ),
+    retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: recordOrEmpty<RetiredNameRegistry>(
+      parsed.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace
+    ),
     worktreeMeta: recordOrEmpty(parsed.worktreeMeta),
     worktreeLineageById: recordOrEmpty(parsed.worktreeLineageById),
     workspaceLineageByChildKey: recordOrEmpty(parsed.workspaceLineageByChildKey),
diff --git a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-payload.ts b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-payload.ts
index a984b7bbf14..b2f74fd3609 100644
--- a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-payload.ts
+++ b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-payload.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import type { PersistedState } from '../../shared/persisted-state-types'
 import type { Repo } from '../../shared/repo-types'
 import type { SparsePreset } from '../../shared/worktree/create-types'
 import type { RetiredNameRegistry } from '../../shared/worktree/retired-name-registry'
-import { parseWorkspaceKey } from '../../shared/workspace-scope'
+import {
+  extractRetiredNameRegistriesByNamespace,
+  mergeRetiredNameRegistryMaps
+} from './profile-project-retired-name-transfer'
 import type { TransferProfileState } from './profile-project-state-file'
 import { rebuildRepoBackedProjectState } from './profile-project-state-file'
 import { mergeHostWorkspaceSessions, mergeWorkspaceSessions } from './profile-project-session-state'
@@ -15,11 +18,8 @@ import {
   extractHostSessionsForTransfer,
   extractSessionForTransfer
 } from './profile-project-session-transfer'
-import {
-  isRepoWorktreeId,
-  rekeyWorktreeId,
-  rekeyWorkspaceKey
-} from './profile-project-worktree-identity'
+import { collectTransferWorktreeIds } from './profile-project-transfer-worktree-ids'
+import { rekeyWorktreeId, rekeyWorkspaceKey } from './profile-project-worktree-identity'
 
 export type TransferPayload = {
   repo: Repo
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export type TransferPayload = {
   /** Generated names already spent for this repo, compacted. Carried so the destination profile
    *  does not reissue a name whose old directory still holds agent state. */
   retiredNameRegistry: RetiredNameRegistry | undefined
+  retiredNameRegistriesByNamespace: Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry>
   worktreeMeta: PersistedState['worktreeMeta']
   worktreeLineageById: PersistedState['worktreeLineageById']
   workspaceLineageByChildKey: PersistedState['workspaceLineageByChildKey']
@@ -64,86 +65,6 @@ function createUniqueRepoId(state: TransferProfileState): string {
   return candidate
 }
 
-function collectTransferWorktreeIds(state: TransferProfileState, repoId: string): Set<string> {
-  const ids = new Set<string>()
-  const add = (value: string | null | undefined): void => {
-    if (value && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, value)) {
-      ids.add(value)
-    }
-  }
-  Object.keys(state.worktreeMeta).forEach(add)
-  for (const lineage of Object.values(state.worktreeLineageById)) {
-    add(lineage.worktreeId)
-    add(lineage.parentWorktreeId)
-  }
-  for (const [key, lineage] of Object.entries(state.workspaceLineageByChildKey)) {
-    const child = parseWorkspaceKey(key)
-    const parent = parseWorkspaceKey(lineage.parentWorkspaceKey)
-    if (child?.type === 'worktree') {
-      add(child.worktreeId)
-    }
-    if (parent?.type === 'worktree') {
-      add(parent.worktreeId)
-    }
-  }
-  collectSessionWorktreeIds(state.workspaceSession, repoId, ids)
-  for (const session of Object.values(state.workspaceSessionsByHostId ?? {})) {
-    collectSessionWorktreeIds(session, repoId, ids)
-  }
-  Object.keys(state.ui?.showDotfilesByWorktree ?? {}).forEach(add)
-  return ids
-}
-
-function collectSessionWorktreeIds(
-  session: PersistedState['workspaceSession'] | undefined,
-  repoId: string,
-  ids: Set<string>
-): void {
-  if (!session) {
-    return
-  }
-  const add = (value: string | null | undefined): void => {
-    if (value && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, value)) {
-      ids.add(value)
-    }
-  }
-  const addOwnerKeys = (record: Record<string, unknown> | undefined): void => {
-    for (const key of Object.keys(record ?? {})) {
-      if (isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, key)) {
-        ids.add(key)
-      }
-      const parsed = parseWorkspaceKey(key)
-      if (parsed?.type === 'worktree' && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, parsed.worktreeId)) {
-        ids.add(parsed.worktreeId)
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  addOwnerKeys(session.tabsByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.openFilesByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.browserTabsByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.activeBrowserTabIdByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.activeTabTypeByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.activeTabIdByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.unifiedTabs)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.tabGroups)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.tabGroupLayouts)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.activeGroupIdByWorktree)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.lastVisitedAtByWorktreeId)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.defaultTerminalTabsAppliedByWorktreeId)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.terminalTopologyRevisionByRepoId)
-  addOwnerKeys(session.activeFileIdByWorktree)
-  for (const tombstone of Object.values(session.terminalSurfaceTombstonesByPaneKey ?? {})) {
-    add(tombstone.worktreeId)
-  }
-  add(session.activeWorktreeId)
-  const activeScope = session.activeWorkspaceKey
-    ? parseWorkspaceKey(session.activeWorkspaceKey)
-    : null
-  if (activeScope?.type === 'worktree') {
-    add(activeScope.worktreeId)
-  }
-}
-
 function rekeyWorktreeIdRecord<T>(
   record: Record<string, T>,
   worktreeIds: ReadonlySet<string>,
@@ -222,6 +143,10 @@ export function createTransferPayload(args: {
       repoId: newRepoId
     })),
     retiredNameRegistry: sourceState.retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo?.[oldRepoId],
+    retiredNameRegistriesByNamespace: extractRetiredNameRegistriesByNamespace(
+      sourceState,
+      sourceRepo
+    ),
     worktreeMeta: rekeyWorktreeIdRecord(
       sourceState.worktreeMeta,
       worktreeIds,
@@ -281,6 +206,10 @@ export function applyPayloadToTarget(
       ...targetState.retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo,
       ...(payload.retiredNameRegistry ? { [payload.repo.id]: payload.retiredNameRegistry } : {})
     },
+    retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: mergeRetiredNameRegistryMaps(
+      targetState.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace ?? {},
+      payload.retiredNameRegistriesByNamespace
+    ),
 
     worktreeMeta: { ...targetState.worktreeMeta, ...payload.worktreeMeta },
     worktreeLineageById: { ...targetState.worktreeLineageById, ...payload.worktreeLineageById },
diff --git a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-worktree-ids.ts b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-worktree-ids.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..51d87cfc668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer-worktree-ids.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import type { PersistedState } from '../../shared/persisted-state-types'
+import { parseWorkspaceKey } from '../../shared/workspace-scope'
+import type { TransferProfileState } from './profile-project-state-file'
+import { isRepoWorktreeId } from './profile-project-worktree-identity'
+
+export function collectTransferWorktreeIds(
+  state: TransferProfileState,
+  repoId: string
+): Set<string> {
+  const ids = new Set<string>()
+  const add = (value: string | null | undefined): void => {
+    if (value && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, value)) {
+      ids.add(value)
+    }
+  }
+  Object.keys(state.worktreeMeta).forEach(add)
+  for (const lineage of Object.values(state.worktreeLineageById)) {
+    add(lineage.worktreeId)
+    add(lineage.parentWorktreeId)
+  }
+  for (const [key, lineage] of Object.entries(state.workspaceLineageByChildKey)) {
+    const child = parseWorkspaceKey(key)
+    const parent = parseWorkspaceKey(lineage.parentWorkspaceKey)
+    if (child?.type === 'worktree') {
+      add(child.worktreeId)
+    }
+    if (parent?.type === 'worktree') {
+      add(parent.worktreeId)
+    }
+  }
+  collectSessionWorktreeIds(state.workspaceSession, repoId, ids)
+  for (const session of Object.values(state.workspaceSessionsByHostId ?? {})) {
+    collectSessionWorktreeIds(session, repoId, ids)
+  }
+  Object.keys(state.ui?.showDotfilesByWorktree ?? {}).forEach(add)
+  return ids
+}
+
+function collectSessionWorktreeIds(
+  session: PersistedState['workspaceSession'] | undefined,
+  repoId: string,
+  ids: Set<string>
+): void {
+  if (!session) {
+    return
+  }
+  const add = (value: string | null | undefined): void => {
+    if (value && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, value)) {
+      ids.add(value)
+    }
+  }
+  const addOwnerKeys = (record: Record<string, unknown> | undefined): void => {
+    for (const key of Object.keys(record ?? {})) {
+      if (isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, key)) {
+        ids.add(key)
+      }
+      const parsed = parseWorkspaceKey(key)
+      if (parsed?.type === 'worktree' && isRepoWorktreeId(repoId, parsed.worktreeId)) {
+        ids.add(parsed.worktreeId)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  addOwnerKeys(session.tabsByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.openFilesByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.browserTabsByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.activeBrowserTabIdByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.activeTabTypeByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.activeTabIdByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.unifiedTabs)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.tabGroups)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.tabGroupLayouts)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.activeGroupIdByWorktree)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.lastVisitedAtByWorktreeId)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.defaultTerminalTabsAppliedByWorktreeId)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.terminalTopologyRevisionByRepoId)
+  addOwnerKeys(session.activeFileIdByWorktree)
+  for (const tombstone of Object.values(session.terminalSurfaceTombstonesByPaneKey ?? {})) {
+    add(tombstone.worktreeId)
+  }
+  add(session.activeWorktreeId)
+  const activeScope = session.activeWorkspaceKey
+    ? parseWorkspaceKey(session.activeWorkspaceKey)
+    : null
+  if (activeScope?.type === 'worktree') {
+    add(activeScope.worktreeId)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer.test.ts b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer.test.ts
index facde389e21..60973c97529 100644
--- a/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/orca-profiles/profile-project-transfer.test.ts
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ describe('profile project transfer', () => {
           ]
         },
         retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo: { 'repo-1': { exhaustedTiers: 0, names: ['nautilus'] } },
+        retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: {
+          'ssh:ssh-1:/workspace/orca-nautilus': { exhaustedTiers: 0, names: ['seahorse'] }
+        },
         worktreeMeta: {
           [sourceWorktreeId]: makeWorktreeMeta({ projectHostSetupId: 'repo-1' })
         },
@@ -186,6 +189,7 @@ describe('profile project transfer', () => {
       exhaustedTiers: 0,
       names: ['nautilus']
     })
+    expect(target.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace).toEqual({})
     expect(target.workspaceSession.tabsByWorktree).toEqual({})
     expect(readProfileState('personal').repos.map((repo) => repo.id)).toEqual(['repo-1'])
   })
@@ -211,6 +215,12 @@ describe('profile project transfer', () => {
           })
         ],
         sshTargets: [sshTarget],
+        retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: {
+          'ssh:ssh-1:posix:/srv/orca-orca-retirement-probe': {
+            exhaustedTiers: 0,
+            names: ['seahorse']
+          }
+        },
         worktreeMeta: {
           [sourceWorktreeId]: makeWorktreeMeta({ projectHostSetupId: 'repo-ssh' })
         },
@@ -266,6 +276,12 @@ describe('profile project transfer', () => {
       executionHostId: 'ssh:ssh-1'
     })
     expect(target.sshTargets).toEqual([sshTarget])
+    expect(target.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace).toEqual({
+      'ssh:ssh-1:posix:/srv/orca-orca-retirement-probe': {
+        exhaustedTiers: 0,
+        names: ['seahorse']
+      }
+    })
     expect(target.workspaceSession.browserTabsByWorktree?.[sourceWorktreeId]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
       worktreeId: sourceWorktreeId,
       sessionProfileId: null,
diff --git a/src/main/persistence-worktree-name-retirement.test.ts b/src/main/persistence-worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
index ec567fefa6c..2554abcd16c 100644
--- a/src/main/persistence-worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/persistence-worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
@@ -140,6 +140,32 @@ describe('worktree name retirement registry', () => {
     expect(store.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry(REPO).names).toEqual([])
   })
 
+  it('reassociates remote retirements after remove and re-add mints a new repo id', async () => {
+    const oldRepo = {
+      id: REPO,
+      path: '/remote/repos/a',
+      displayName: 'a',
+      badgeColor: '',
+      addedAt: 0,
+      connectionId: 'ssh-1'
+    }
+    let store = await createStore()
+    store.addRepo(oldRepo)
+    const { getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo, retireGeneratedWorktreeName } =
+      await import('./worktree-name-retirement')
+    await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(store, oldRepo, store.getSettings(), 'nautilus')
+    store.removeProject(REPO)
+    store.flush()
+
+    store = await reloadStore()
+    const newRepo = { ...oldRepo, id: OTHER_REPO }
+    store.addRepo(newRepo)
+
+    await expect(
+      getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, newRepo, [newRepo], store.getSettings())
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ exhaustedTiers: 0, names: ['nautilus'] })
+  })
+
   it('keeps the registry when one host row is removed but the repo id survives elsewhere', async () => {
     const store = await createStore()
     store.addRepo({ id: REPO, path: '/repos/a', displayName: 'a', badgeColor: '', addedAt: 0 })
diff --git a/src/main/persistence.ts b/src/main/persistence.ts
index 535a1503910..253ea79ef1a 100644
--- a/src/main/persistence.ts
+++ b/src/main/persistence.ts
@@ -2358,7 +2358,7 @@ function normalizeRetiredNameRegistry(row: unknown): RetiredNameRegistry {
 
 /** Why: a corrupt or hand-edited map must degrade to "nothing retired" rather than throw during
  *  load — over-retiring costs one name from a 552-entry pool, but a load failure costs the app. */
-function normalizeRetiredWorktreeNamesByRepo(value: unknown): Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry> {
+function normalizeRetiredNameRegistryMap(value: unknown): Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry> {
   if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
     return {}
   }
@@ -3865,9 +3865,12 @@ export class Store {
                 (alias): alias is string => typeof alias === 'string'
               )
             : [],
-          retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo: normalizeRetiredWorktreeNamesByRepo(
+          retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo: normalizeRetiredNameRegistryMap(
             parsed.retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo
           ),
+          retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: normalizeRetiredNameRegistryMap(
+            parsed.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace
+          ),
           sshRemotePtyLeases: (parsed.sshRemotePtyLeases ?? [])
             .map(normalizeSshRemotePtyLease)
             .filter((lease): lease is SshRemotePtyLease => lease !== null),
@@ -7265,6 +7268,13 @@ export class Store {
       : EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY
   }
 
+  getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistryForNamespace(namespaceKey: string): RetiredNameRegistry {
+    const stored = this.state.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace?.[namespaceKey]
+    return stored
+      ? { exhaustedTiers: stored.exhaustedTiers, names: [...stored.names] }
+      : EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY
+  }
+
   /** Records a generated workspace name as spent for this repo. Called with the name main actually
    *  used, not the one the renderer proposed — the create path can advance past it on collision. */
   addRetiredWorktreeName(repoId: string, name: string): void {
@@ -7291,6 +7301,30 @@ export class Store {
     return incoming.size > 0 && this.applyRetiredWorktreeNames(repoId, incoming)
   }
 
+  mergeRetiredWorktreeNamesForNamespace(namespaceKey: string, names: Iterable<string>): boolean {
+    if (!namespaceKey) {
+      return false
+    }
+    const normalized = new Set<string>()
+    for (const name of names) {
+      const candidate = normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(name)
+      if (candidate) {
+        normalized.add(candidate)
+      }
+    }
+    const next = addRetiredNames(
+      this.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistryForNamespace(namespaceKey),
+      normalized
+    )
+    if (!next) {
+      return false
+    }
+    this.state.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace ??= {}
+    this.state.retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace[namespaceKey] = next
+    this.scheduleSave()
+    return true
+  }
+
   private applyRetiredWorktreeNames(repoId: string, names: Iterable<string>): boolean {
     const next = addRetiredNames(this.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry(repoId), names)
     if (!next) {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
index 65fdb7feed9..eaa64ec203d 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const ORIGIN_REMOTE_URL = 'git@example.com:group/repo.git'
 const ORIGIN_HEAD_COMPONENT = reviewHeadRemoteRefComponent('origin', ORIGIN_REMOTE_URL)
 import { detectAgentStatusFromTitle, MAX_OSC_TITLE_CHARS } from '../../shared/agent-detection'
 import {
+  addSparseWorktree,
   addWorktree,
   assertWorktreeCleanForRemoval,
   listWorktrees,
@@ -216,6 +217,7 @@ vi.mock('../ipc/filesystem-watcher', () => ({
 
 const {
   MOCK_GIT_WORKTREES,
+  addSparseWorktreeMock,
   addWorktreeMock,
   removeWorktreeMock,
   forceDeleteLocalBranchMock,
@@ -312,6 +314,7 @@ const {
         isMainWorktree: false
       }
     ],
+    addSparseWorktreeMock: vi.fn(),
     addWorktreeMock: vi.fn(),
     removeWorktreeMock: vi.fn(),
     forceDeleteLocalBranchMock: vi.fn(),
@@ -412,6 +415,7 @@ vi.mock('../git/worktree', () => ({
   listWorktrees: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(MOCK_GIT_WORKTREES),
   listWorktreesStrict: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(MOCK_GIT_WORKTREES),
   assertWorktreeCleanForRemoval: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+  addSparseWorktree: addSparseWorktreeMock,
   addWorktree: addWorktreeMock,
   removeWorktree: removeWorktreeMock,
   forceDeleteLocalBranch: forceDeleteLocalBranchMock
@@ -677,6 +681,7 @@ function resetRuntimeTestMocks(): void {
       }
     })
   vi.mocked(addWorktree).mockReset()
+  vi.mocked(addSparseWorktree).mockReset()
   vi.mocked(assertWorktreeCleanForRemoval).mockReset()
   vi.mocked(assertWorktreeCleanForRemoval).mockResolvedValue(undefined)
   vi.mocked(removeWorktree).mockReset()
@@ -4297,13 +4302,18 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService({
       ...store,
       addRetiredWorktreeName,
-      getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry: () => ({ exhaustedTiers: 0, names: ['nautilus'] })
+      getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry: () => ({
+        exhaustedTiers: 0,
+        names: Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_unused, index) =>
+          index === 0 ? 'nautilus' : `nautilus-${index + 1}`
+        )
+      })
     })
     const staleScan = deferred<typeof MOCK_GIT_WORKTREES>()
     const createdWorktree = {
-      path: '/tmp/workspaces/repo-nautilus-2',
+      path: '/tmp/workspaces/repo-nautilus-101',
       head: 'def',
-      branch: 'nautilus-2',
+      branch: 'nautilus-101',
       isBare: false,
       isMainWorktree: false
     }
@@ -4334,7 +4344,47 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
         worktrees: expect.arrayContaining([expect.objectContaining({ path: createdWorktree.path })])
       }
     )
-    expect(addRetiredWorktreeName).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TEST_REPO_ID, 'nautilus-2')
+    expect(addRetiredWorktreeName).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TEST_REPO_ID, 'nautilus-101')
+  })
+
+  it('retires a generated name before a post-create listing failure', async () => {
+    const addRetiredWorktreeName = vi.fn()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService({ ...store, addRetiredWorktreeName })
+    computeWorktreePathMock.mockReturnValue('/tmp/workspaces/nautilus')
+    ensurePathWithinWorkspaceMock.mockReturnValue('/tmp/workspaces/nautilus')
+    vi.mocked(listWorktrees).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('listing unavailable'))
+
+    await expect(
+      runtime.createManagedWorktree({
+        repoSelector: 'id:repo-1',
+        name: 'nautilus',
+        nameWasGenerated: true
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('listing unavailable')
+
+    expect(addWorktree).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(addRetiredWorktreeName).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TEST_REPO_ID, 'nautilus')
+  })
+
+  it('retires a generated sparse name when creation rollback also fails', async () => {
+    const addRetiredWorktreeName = vi.fn()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService({ ...store, addRetiredWorktreeName })
+    computeWorktreePathMock.mockReturnValue('/tmp/workspaces/nautilus')
+    ensurePathWithinWorkspaceMock.mockReturnValue('/tmp/workspaces/nautilus')
+    vi.mocked(addSparseWorktree).mockRejectedValueOnce(
+      Object.assign(new Error('sparse setup failed'), { cleanupFailed: true })
+    )
+
+    await expect(
+      runtime.createManagedWorktree({
+        repoSelector: 'id:repo-1',
+        name: 'nautilus',
+        nameWasGenerated: true,
+        sparseCheckout: { directories: ['packages/web'] }
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('sparse setup failed')
+
+    expect(addRetiredWorktreeName).toHaveBeenCalledWith(TEST_REPO_ID, 'nautilus')
   })
 
   it('neither skips nor retires a name the user typed', async () => {
@@ -44878,12 +44928,12 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     )
   })
 
-  it('detects agents on the SSH host before launching remote startup drafts', async () => {
+  it('forwards generated-name provenance while launching SSH startup drafts', async () => {
     detectRemoteAgentsMock.mockResolvedValue(['claude'])
     const created = {
-      path: '/remote/mobile-startup-draft',
+      path: '/remote/repo-nautilus-2',
       head: 'def',
-      branch: 'refs/heads/mobile-startup-draft',
+      branch: 'refs/heads/nautilus-2',
       isBare: false,
       isMainWorktree: false
     }
@@ -44913,6 +44963,7 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
         defaultTuiAgent: null,
         agentCmdOverrides: {}
       }),
+      getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry: () => ({ exhaustedTiers: 0, names: ['nautilus'] }),
       getAllWorktreeMeta: () => metaById,
       getWorktreeMeta: (worktreeId: string) => metaById[worktreeId],
       setWorktreeMeta: (worktreeId: string, meta: Partial<WorktreeMeta>) => {
@@ -44956,15 +45007,22 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     const draftUrl = 'https://github.com/stablyai/orca/pull/456'
     const result = await runtime.createManagedWorktree({
       repoSelector: TEST_REPO_ID,
-      name: 'mobile-startup-draft',
+      name: 'nautilus',
+      nameWasGenerated: true,
       startupDraft: draftUrl
     })
 
     expect(detectRemoteAgentsMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ connectionId: 'ssh-1' })
     expect(detectInstalledAgentsWithShellPathHydrationMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(provider.addWorktree).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      '/remote/repo',
+      'nautilus-2',
+      '/remote/repo-nautilus-2',
+      expect.any(Object)
+    )
     expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
-        cwd: '/remote/mobile-startup-draft',
+        cwd: '/remote/repo-nautilus-2',
         command: `claude '--dangerously-skip-permissions' --prefill '${draftUrl}'`,
         connectionId: 'ssh-1',
         worktreeId: result.worktree.id
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index 0767e6b9363..3fd2f0321e9 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -962,12 +962,15 @@ import {
 } from '../ipc/worktree-remote'
 import {
   getBranchNameOverrideCandidate,
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate,
   getWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName,
   WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS
 } from '../worktree-create-candidates'
 import {
-  ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled,
-  getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo
+  failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement,
+  getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo,
+  retireGeneratedWorktreeName
 } from '../worktree-name-retirement'
 import {
   createRetiredNameLookup,
@@ -21348,12 +21351,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     }
     const repo = await this.resolveRepoSelector(repoSelector)
     const settings = store.getSettings()
-    try {
-      await ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled(store, repo, settings)
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.warn(`[runtime] retirement backfill failed for repo ${repo.id}:`, error)
-    }
-    const registry: RetiredNameRegistry = getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
+    const registry: RetiredNameRegistry = await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
       store,
       repo,
       store.getRepos(),
@@ -22570,21 +22568,35 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     let branchConflictKind: 'local' | 'remote' | null = null
     let worktreePath = ''
     let worktreePathResolved = false
-    const isRetiredName = args.nameWasGenerated
-      ? createRetiredNameLookup(
-          getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(this.store, repo, this.store.getRepos(), settings)
-        )
+    const shouldRetireGeneratedName =
+      args.nameWasGenerated === true && isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName(sanitizedName)
+    const retiredNameRegistry = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+      ? await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(this.store, repo, this.store.getRepos(), settings)
       : null
+    const isRetiredName = retiredNameRegistry ? createRetiredNameLookup(retiredNameRegistry) : null
     // Why: runtime/mobile create-from-review callers should get a new workspace
     // even when the PR branch or review branch name is already in use.
-    for (let suffix = 1; suffix <= WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS; suffix += 1) {
-      effectiveSanitizedName = getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
-      effectiveRequestedName = args.name.trim()
-        ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(args.name, suffix)
-        : effectiveSanitizedName
+    for (
+      let suffix = 1, attempts = 0;
+      attempts < WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS;
+      suffix += 1
+    ) {
+      effectiveSanitizedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+        ? getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate(
+            sanitizedName,
+            suffix,
+            retiredNameRegistry?.exhaustedTiers
+          )
+        : getWorktreeCreateCandidate(sanitizedName, suffix)
+      effectiveRequestedName = shouldRetireGeneratedName
+        ? effectiveSanitizedName
+        : args.name.trim()
+          ? getWorktreeCreateCandidate(args.name, suffix)
+          : effectiveSanitizedName
       if (isRetiredName?.(effectiveSanitizedName)) {
         continue
       }
+      attempts += 1
       branchName = await resolveCreateBranchName(
         repo.path,
         selectedExistingLocalBranchName ??
@@ -22786,19 +22798,11 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       ...(suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate ? { suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate } : {})
     }
     const defaultAddWorktreeOption = addProjectGitOptions()
-    const addResult: AddWorktreeResult =
-      (await (sparseDirectories.length > 0
-        ? checkoutExistingBranch
-          ? addSparseWorktree(
-              repo.path,
-              worktreePath,
-              branchName,
-              sparseDirectories,
-              baseBranch,
-              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-              addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
-            )
-          : suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
+    let addResult: AddWorktreeResult
+    try {
+      addResult =
+        (await (sparseDirectories.length > 0
+          ? checkoutExistingBranch
             ? addSparseWorktree(
                 repo.path,
                 worktreePath,
@@ -22806,9 +22810,9 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                 sparseDirectories,
                 baseBranch,
                 settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-                addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
+                addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
               )
-            : remoteTrackingBaseOption
+            : suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
               ? addSparseWorktree(
                   repo.path,
                   worktreePath,
@@ -22816,9 +22820,9 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                   sparseDirectories,
                   baseBranch,
                   settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-                  addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
+                  addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
                 )
-              : defaultAddWorktreeOption
+              : remoteTrackingBaseOption
                 ? addSparseWorktree(
                     repo.path,
                     worktreePath,
@@ -22826,27 +22830,27 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                     sparseDirectories,
                     baseBranch,
                     settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-                    defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                    addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
                   )
-                : addSparseWorktree(
-                    repo.path,
-                    worktreePath,
-                    branchName,
-                    sparseDirectories,
-                    baseBranch,
-                    settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
-                  )
-        : checkoutExistingBranch
-          ? addWorktree(
-              repo.path,
-              worktreePath,
-              branchName,
-              baseBranch,
-              settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
-              false,
-              addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
-            )
-          : suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
+                : defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                  ? addSparseWorktree(
+                      repo.path,
+                      worktreePath,
+                      branchName,
+                      sparseDirectories,
+                      baseBranch,
+                      settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+                      defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                    )
+                  : addSparseWorktree(
+                      repo.path,
+                      worktreePath,
+                      branchName,
+                      sparseDirectories,
+                      baseBranch,
+                      settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+                    )
+          : checkoutExistingBranch
             ? addWorktree(
                 repo.path,
                 worktreePath,
@@ -22854,9 +22858,9 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                 baseBranch,
                 settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
                 false,
-                addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
+                addProjectGitOptions(existingBranchOption)
               )
-            : remoteTrackingBaseOption
+            : suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
               ? addWorktree(
                   repo.path,
                   worktreePath,
@@ -22864,9 +22868,9 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                   baseBranch,
                   settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
                   false,
-                  addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
+                  addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
                 )
-              : defaultAddWorktreeOption
+              : remoteTrackingBaseOption
                 ? addWorktree(
                     repo.path,
                     worktreePath,
@@ -22874,15 +22878,36 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                     baseBranch,
                     settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
                     false,
-                    defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                    addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
                   )
-                : addWorktree(
-                    repo.path,
-                    worktreePath,
-                    branchName,
-                    baseBranch,
-                    settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
-                  ))) ?? {}
+                : defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                  ? addWorktree(
+                      repo.path,
+                      worktreePath,
+                      branchName,
+                      baseBranch,
+                      settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+                      false,
+                      defaultAddWorktreeOption
+                    )
+                  : addWorktree(
+                      repo.path,
+                      worktreePath,
+                      branchName,
+                      baseBranch,
+                      settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
+                    ))) ?? {}
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (shouldRetireGeneratedName && failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement(error)) {
+        await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(this.store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+      }
+      throw error
+    }
+
+    // Why: fallible metadata work after creation must not leave a real workspace name reusable.
+    if (shouldRetireGeneratedName) {
+      await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(this.store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
+    }
 
     let configuredPushTarget: GitPushTarget | undefined
     if (preparedPushTarget) {
@@ -22904,10 +22929,6 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     }
 
     const worktreeId = `${repo.id}::${created.path}`
-    // Why: repo-qualified layouts decorate the physical leaf; retire the name main actually used.
-    if (args.nameWasGenerated) {
-      this.store.addRetiredWorktreeName(repo.id, effectiveSanitizedName)
-    }
     const now = Date.now()
     // Why: PR/MR-created worktrees can start from a head ref/SHA while Source
     // Control must compare against the review target branch.
@@ -23355,6 +23376,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     repo: Repo,
     args: {
       name: string
+      nameWasGenerated?: boolean
       baseBranch?: string
       compareBaseRef?: string
       branchNameOverride?: string
@@ -23406,6 +23428,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       {
         repoId: repo.id,
         name: args.name,
+        ...(args.nameWasGenerated === true ? { nameWasGenerated: true } : {}),
         ...(args.displayName ? { displayName: args.displayName } : {}),
         ...(args.baseBranch ? { baseBranch: args.baseBranch } : {}),
         ...(args.compareBaseRef ? { compareBaseRef: args.compareBaseRef } : {}),
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.test.ts b/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f39fe7cefc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName
+} from './worktree-create-candidates'
+
+describe('generated worktree create candidates', () => {
+  it('advances canonical tiers instead of nesting collision suffixes', () => {
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate('nautilus-2', 1)).toBe('nautilus-2')
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate('nautilus-2', 2)).toBe('nautilus-3')
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate('nautilus-2', 99)).toBe('nautilus-100')
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate('nautilus', 1, 100)).toBe('nautilus-101')
+  })
+
+  it('canonicalizes legacy nested generated suffixes', () => {
+    expect(isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName('nautilus')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName('nautilus-2')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName('nautilus-2-3')).toBe(true)
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate('nautilus-2-3', 1)).toBe('nautilus-4')
+    expect(isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName('fix-login')).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.ts b/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.ts
index 87be1398465..71536ad6c98 100644
--- a/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.ts
+++ b/src/main/worktree-create-candidates.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
+import {
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate,
+  isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName
+} from '../shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy'
+
+export { isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName }
+
 export const WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_SUFFIX_ATTEMPTS = 100
 
 export function getWorktreeCreateCandidate(value: string, suffix: number): string {
   return suffix === 1 ? value : `${value}-${suffix}`
 }
 
+export function getGeneratedWorktreeCreateCandidate(
+  value: string,
+  suffix: number,
+  exhaustedTiers = 0
+): string {
+  return getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate(value, suffix - 1, exhaustedTiers + 1)
+}
+
 export function getBranchNameOverrideCandidate(
   branchNameOverride: string | undefined,
   suffix: number
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.test.ts b/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
index e2ec1ab826f..8a0e8237caf 100644
--- a/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.test.ts
@@ -35,12 +35,9 @@ describe('normalizeRetirableGeneratedName', () => {
     expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(`${FIRST}-100`)).toBe(`${FIRST}-100`)
   })
 
-  it('retires a suffixed name that itself took a collision suffix', () => {
-    // Once the pool is spent the suggester emits `<name>-2`; a collision on that yields
-    // `<name>-2-3`. Stripping only one suffix leaves `<name>-2`, which is not a pool name, so
-    // retirement would no-op at exactly the tier where every base name is already gone.
-    expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(`${FIRST}-2-3`)).toBe(`${FIRST}-2-3`)
-    expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(`${FIRST}-2-3-4`)).toBe(`${FIRST}-2-3-4`)
+  it('rejects legacy repeated suffixes that the canonical collision sequence never emits', () => {
+    expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(`${FIRST}-2-3`)).toBeNull()
+    expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(`${FIRST}-2-3-4`)).toBeNull()
     expect(normalizeRetirableGeneratedName('fix-login-2-3')).toBeNull()
   })
 
@@ -122,6 +119,18 @@ describe('discoverRetiredWorktreeNames', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('matches an NFC bucket for an NFD workspace root', async () => {
+    const nfdRoot = '/Users/ada/cafe\u0301'
+    await withFakeHome([`-Users-ada-caf--${FIRST}`], async (home) => {
+      const retired = await discoverRetiredWorktreeNames({
+        workspaceRoots: [nfdRoot],
+        home,
+        env: {}
+      })
+      expect(retired).toEqual(new Set([FIRST]))
+    })
+  })
+
   it('matches a dot-directory root, where the separator run encodes to two dashes', async () => {
     await withFakeHome([`-Users-ada--orca-worktrees-${FIRST}`], async (home) => {
       const retired = await discoverRetiredWorktreeNames({
@@ -214,6 +223,7 @@ describe('getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo', () => {
     const calls: string[] = []
     return {
       calls,
+      mergeRetiredWorktreeNames: () => false,
       getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry: (repoId: string) => {
         calls.push(repoId)
         return { exhaustedTiers: 0, names: byRepo[repoId] ?? [] }
@@ -221,28 +231,28 @@ describe('getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo', () => {
     }
   }
 
-  it('shares retirements when two repos create into the same cwd namespace', () => {
+  it('shares retirements when two repos create into the same cwd namespace', async () => {
     const store = storeOf({ 'repo-a': [FIRST], 'repo-b': [SECOND] })
     const repos = [makeRepo('repo-a', '/repos/a'), makeRepo('repo-b', '/repos/b')]
 
     expect(
-      [...getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[1], repos, settingsFor(false)).names].sort()
+      [
+        ...(await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[1], repos, settingsFor(false))).names
+      ].sort()
     ).toEqual([FIRST, SECOND].sort())
   })
 
-  it('keeps independent nested repo paths in separate retirement domains', () => {
+  it('keeps independent nested repo paths in separate retirement domains', async () => {
     const store = storeOf({ 'repo-a': [FIRST], 'repo-b': [SECOND] })
     const repos = [makeRepo('repo-a', '/repos/a'), makeRepo('repo-b', '/repos/b')]
 
-    expect(getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[1], repos, settingsFor(true))).toEqual({
+    expect(await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[1], repos, settingsFor(true))).toEqual({
       exhaustedTiers: 0,
       names: [SECOND]
     })
   })
 
-  it('never probes a path for peers that hold no retirements', () => {
-    // Why: deriving a peer's namespace runs computeWorktreePath, which for a WSL repo is a blocking
-    // wsl.exe call. Reading `path` is exactly what a probe does, so count that.
+  it('never probes a path for peers that hold no retirements', async () => {
     const pathReads: string[] = []
     const spyRepo = (id: string, path: string): Repo => {
       const repo = makeRepo(id, path)
@@ -259,19 +269,22 @@ describe('getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo', () => {
       ...Array.from({ length: 20 }, (_unused, index) => spyRepo(`peer-${index}`, `/repos/${index}`))
     ]
 
-    expect(getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[0], repos, settingsFor(false))).toEqual({
-      exhaustedTiers: 0,
-      names: [FIRST]
-    })
+    expect(await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, repos[0], repos, settingsFor(false))).toEqual(
+      {
+        exhaustedTiers: 0,
+        names: [FIRST]
+      }
+    )
     expect(pathReads.filter((id) => id.startsWith('peer-'))).toEqual([])
   })
 
-  it('reports nothing for a folder workspace, which has no generated worktree names', () => {
+  it('reports nothing for a folder workspace, which has no generated worktree names', async () => {
     const store = storeOf({ folder: [FIRST] })
     const folderRepo = { ...makeRepo('folder', '/repos/folder'), kind: 'folder' as const }
 
     expect(
-      getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, folderRepo, [folderRepo], settingsFor(false)).names
+      (await getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(store, folderRepo, [folderRepo], settingsFor(false)))
+        .names
     ).toEqual([])
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.ts b/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.ts
index ba73ba2525d..53ac593011d 100644
--- a/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.ts
+++ b/src/main/worktree-name-retirement.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { homedir } from 'node:os'
 import { join } from 'node:path'
 import { getRepoExecutionHostId } from '../shared/execution-host'
 import {
-  CREATURE_POOL_NAMES,
+  creatureNameTier,
   EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY,
   isEmptyRetiredNameRegistry,
   mergeRetiredNameRegistries,
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@ import { isFolderRepo } from '../shared/repo-kind'
 import type { GlobalSettings } from '../shared/global-settings-types'
 import type { Repo } from '../shared/repo-types'
 import {
-  encodeClaudeProjectPath,
+  encodeClaudeProjectPaths,
   isClaudeProjectDirInScope
 } from './ai-vault/claude-project-dir-encoding'
 import {
   computeRemoteWorktreePath,
-  computeWorktreePath,
   computeWorktreePathAsync,
   getWorktreePathSettings,
   hasRepoWorktreeBasePath
@@ -31,29 +30,28 @@ const scansByStore = new WeakMap<object, Map<string, Promise<Set<string>>>>()
 
 type RetirementReadStore = {
   getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry(repoId: string): RetiredNameRegistry
+  getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistryForNamespace?(namespaceKey: string): RetiredNameRegistry
 }
 type RetirementBackfillStore = {
   mergeRetiredWorktreeNames(repoId: string, names: Iterable<string>): boolean
 }
+type RetirementWriteStore = {
+  addRetiredWorktreeName(repoId: string, name: string): void
+  mergeRetiredWorktreeNamesForNamespace?(namespaceKey: string, names: Iterable<string>): boolean
+}
 type RetirementPathSettings = Pick<GlobalSettings, 'nestWorkspaces' | 'workspaceDir'>
 
-/** Strips EVERY trailing numeric suffix, not just one. Once the pool is spent the suggester emits
- *  `nautilus-2`, and a collision on that yields `nautilus-2-3` — which a single strip leaves as
- *  `nautilus-2`, not a pool name, so retirement would silently no-op on exactly the tier where the
- *  pool is already exhausted. Deliberately not shared with `isAutoGeneratedCreatureBranchName`:
- *  auto-rename eligibility is a different question and its single-strip behavior is intended. */
+/** Only canonical generator output is persisted. Collision retries advance canonical tiers, so a
+ *  repeat-suffixed path can never be generated again and needs no permanent registry entry. */
 export function normalizeRetirableGeneratedName(name: string): string | null {
   const normalized = name.trim().toLowerCase()
-  if (normalized.length > 256) {
-    return null
-  }
-  let base = normalized
-  let stripped = base.replace(/-\d+$/, '')
-  while (stripped !== base) {
-    base = stripped
-    stripped = base.replace(/-\d+$/, '')
-  }
-  return base && CREATURE_POOL_NAMES.has(base) ? normalized : null
+  return normalized.length <= 256 && creatureNameTier(normalized) !== null ? normalized : null
+}
+
+/** A sparse create error carries this marker only when its rollback also failed, leaving the path
+ *  occupied even though creation rejected. */
+export function failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement(error: unknown): boolean {
+  return typeof error === 'object' && error !== null && Reflect.get(error, 'cleanupFailed') === true
 }
 
 /** Why: over-retiring costs one name from a 552-entry pool; under-retiring reissues a path whose
@@ -95,17 +93,33 @@ export function extractBucketLeafCandidates(
   return []
 }
 
-function getRetirementProbePath(repo: Repo, settings: RetirementPathSettings): string {
+async function getRetirementProbePath(
+  repo: Repo,
+  settings: RetirementPathSettings
+): Promise<string> {
   const pathSettings = getWorktreePathSettings(repo, settings)
   return repo.connectionId
     ? computeRemoteWorktreePath(RETIREMENT_PROBE_NAME, repo.path, pathSettings, {
         useConfiguredAbsolutePath: hasRepoWorktreeBasePath(repo)
       })
-    : computeWorktreePath(RETIREMENT_PROBE_NAME, repo.path, pathSettings)
+    : computeWorktreePathAsync(RETIREMENT_PROBE_NAME, repo.path, pathSettings)
 }
 
-// Why: for a WSL repo the probe path costs a blocking `wsl.exe` call, and the create path plus
-// every suggestion refresh asks for the same key. Inputs are all the key derives from.
+export function getRemoteRetirementNamespaceKey(
+  repo: Repo,
+  settings: RetirementPathSettings
+): string | null {
+  if (!repo.connectionId) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const pathSettings = getWorktreePathSettings(repo, settings)
+  const probePath = computeRemoteWorktreePath(RETIREMENT_PROBE_NAME, repo.path, pathSettings, {
+    useConfiguredAbsolutePath: hasRepoWorktreeBasePath(repo)
+  })
+  return `${getRepoExecutionHostId(repo)}:${worktreePathComparisonKey(probePath)}`
+}
+
+// Why: the create path and every suggestion refresh ask for the same namespace identity.
 const COLLISION_KEY_CACHE_MAX = 512
 const collisionKeyCache = new Map<string, string>()
 
@@ -115,7 +129,10 @@ export function resetRetirementCollisionKeyCacheForTests(): void {
 
 /** Identifies the cwd namespace a repo creates workspaces into. Two repos that would place a
  *  workspace of the same name at the same path share retirements; independent paths do not. */
-export function getRetirementCollisionKey(repo: Repo, settings: RetirementPathSettings): string {
+async function getRetirementCollisionKey(
+  repo: Repo,
+  settings: RetirementPathSettings
+): Promise<string> {
   const hostId = getRepoExecutionHostId(repo)
   const cacheKey = [
     hostId,
@@ -128,7 +145,9 @@ export function getRetirementCollisionKey(repo: Repo, settings: RetirementPathSe
   if (cached !== undefined) {
     return cached
   }
-  const key = `${hostId}:${worktreePathComparisonKey(getRetirementProbePath(repo, settings))}`
+  const key =
+    getRemoteRetirementNamespaceKey(repo, settings) ??
+    `${hostId}:${worktreePathComparisonKey(await getRetirementProbePath(repo, settings))}`
   // Why not always cache: only the WSL home *success* path is cached upstream, so a stopped distro
   // yields a fallback namespace. Memoizing that would strand the repo there for the whole session.
   const wsl = parseWslPath(repo.path)
@@ -146,19 +165,30 @@ export function getRetirementCollisionKey(repo: Repo, settings: RetirementPathSe
  *  namespace — that is where a reissued name would actually collide.
  *
  *  The peer scan is deliberately lazy: a repo's own retirements never touch a path, and a peer's
- *  namespace is derived only once that peer is known to hold retirements. Deriving one costs a
- *  blocking `wsl.exe` call for a WSL repo, so it must not be paid per repo on every create. */
-export function getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
-  store: RetirementReadStore,
+ *  namespace is derived only once that peer is known to hold retirements. */
+export async function getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
+  store: RetirementReadStore & RetirementBackfillStore,
   repo: Repo,
   repos: readonly Repo[],
   settings: RetirementPathSettings
-): RetiredNameRegistry {
+): Promise<RetiredNameRegistry> {
   if (isFolderRepo(repo)) {
     return EMPTY_RETIRED_NAME_REGISTRY
   }
-  let registry = store.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry(repo.id)
   let collisionKey: string | null = null
+  try {
+    collisionKey = await ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled(store, repo, settings)
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(`[worktrees] retirement backfill failed for repo ${repo.id}:`, error)
+  }
+  let registry = store.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistry(repo.id)
+  if (repo.connectionId && store.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistryForNamespace) {
+    collisionKey ??= await getRetirementCollisionKey(repo, settings)
+    registry = mergeRetiredNameRegistries(
+      registry,
+      store.getRetiredWorktreeNameRegistryForNamespace(collisionKey)
+    )
+  }
   for (const candidate of repos) {
     if (candidate.id === repo.id || isFolderRepo(candidate)) {
       continue
@@ -167,8 +197,8 @@ export function getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
     if (isEmptyRetiredNameRegistry(candidateRegistry)) {
       continue
     }
-    collisionKey ??= getRetirementCollisionKey(repo, settings)
-    if (getRetirementCollisionKey(candidate, settings) !== collisionKey) {
+    collisionKey ??= await getRetirementCollisionKey(repo, settings)
+    if ((await getRetirementCollisionKey(candidate, settings)) !== collisionKey) {
       continue
     }
     registry = mergeRetiredNameRegistries(registry, candidateRegistry)
@@ -176,6 +206,24 @@ export function getRetiredNameRegistryForRepo(
   return registry
 }
 
+export async function retireGeneratedWorktreeName(
+  store: RetirementWriteStore,
+  repo: Repo,
+  settings: RetirementPathSettings,
+  name: string
+): Promise<void> {
+  store.addRetiredWorktreeName(repo.id, name)
+  if (!repo.connectionId || !store.mergeRetiredWorktreeNamesForNamespace) {
+    return
+  }
+  try {
+    const namespaceKey = await getRetirementCollisionKey(repo, settings)
+    store.mergeRetiredWorktreeNamesForNamespace(namespaceKey, [name])
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(`[worktrees] failed to persist remote retirement namespace for ${repo.id}:`, error)
+  }
+}
+
 function parentPath(path: string): string {
   const trimmed = path.replace(/[/\\]+$/, '')
   const separatorIndex = Math.max(trimmed.lastIndexOf('/'), trimmed.lastIndexOf('\\'))
@@ -189,11 +237,11 @@ export async function ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled(
   store: RetirementBackfillStore,
   repo: Repo,
   settings: RetirementPathSettings
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<string | null> {
   // Remote workspaces keep their agent state on the execution host, which this scan cannot see, so
   // a re-added SSH repo does not recover its retirements the way a local one does.
   if (isFolderRepo(repo) || repo.connectionId) {
-    return
+    return null
   }
   const probePath = await computeWorktreePathAsync(
     RETIREMENT_PROBE_NAME,
@@ -214,6 +262,7 @@ export async function ensureRetiredWorktreeNamesBackfilled(
   // Why the merge sits outside the cached scan: the scan is per cwd namespace but the registry is
   // per repo, so every repo that asks must receive it — not only the one that triggered it.
   store.mergeRetiredWorktreeNames(repo.id, await scan)
+  return scanKey
 }
 
 async function readDirectoryNames(path: string): Promise<string[]> {
@@ -257,7 +306,7 @@ export async function discoverRetiredWorktreeNames(args: {
   // filesystems, and a missed bucket reissues a live path while a spurious one costs one name.
   const encodedParents = args.workspaceRoots
     .filter((root) => root.length > 0)
-    .map((root) => encodeClaudeProjectPath(root).toLowerCase())
+    .flatMap((root) => encodeClaudeProjectPaths(root).map((path) => path.toLowerCase()))
   if (encodedParents.length > 0) {
     const projectsDir = getClaudeProjectsDir(args.home ?? homedir(), args.env ?? process.env)
     for (const bucket of await readDirectoryNames(projectsDir)) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.test.ts
index 068cf561e45..a7c43c8d596 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.test.ts
@@ -6244,6 +6244,33 @@ describe('worktree remote runtime mutations', () => {
     expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo1).toEqual([wt])
   })
 
+  it('forwards generated-name provenance through paired-runtime create', async () => {
+    const store = createTestStore()
+    const wt = makeWorktree({ id: 'repo1::/path/nautilus', repoId: 'repo1' })
+    runtimeEnvironmentCall.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: 'rpc-create',
+      ok: true,
+      result: { worktree: wt },
+      _meta: { runtimeId: 'runtime-remote' }
+    })
+    store.setState({
+      settings: { activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: 'env-1' } as never,
+      worktreesByRepo: { repo1: [] }
+    } as Partial<AppState>)
+    const createWorktree = store.getState().createWorktree
+    const args: Parameters<typeof createWorktree> = ['repo1', 'nautilus']
+    args[25] = { nameWasGenerated: true }
+
+    await createWorktree(...args)
+
+    expect(runtimeEnvironmentCall).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        method: 'worktree.create',
+        params: expect.objectContaining({ nameWasGenerated: true })
+      })
+    )
+  })
+
   it('persists Jira item and source context through paired-runtime create', async () => {
     const store = createTestStore()
     const wt = makeWorktree({
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.ts
index 7443b816008..8ba5b2881ba 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ import { folderWorkspaceToWorktree } from '../../../../shared/folder-workspace-w
 import {
   CLIENT_WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_ATTEMPTS,
   getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate,
   isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict
 } from '../../../../shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy'
 import {
@@ -3941,7 +3942,9 @@ export const createWorktreeSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], WorktreeSlice>
     const provisionedRoot = options?.provisionedRoot
     try {
       for (let attempt = 0; attempt < CLIENT_WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_ATTEMPTS; attempt += 1) {
-        const candidateName = getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(name, attempt)
+        const candidateName = options?.nameWasGenerated
+          ? getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate(name, attempt)
+          : getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(name, attempt)
         // Why: older runtimes reject exact PR branch overrides on collision, so retry both branch and worktree names.
         const candidateBranchNameOverride = branchNameOverride
           ? getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(branchNameOverride, attempt)
@@ -4020,6 +4023,7 @@ export const createWorktreeSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], WorktreeSlice>
                   {
                     repo: repoId,
                     name: candidateName,
+                    ...(options?.nameWasGenerated ? { nameWasGenerated: true } : {}),
                     baseBranch,
                     ...(compareBaseRef ? { compareBaseRef } : {}),
                     ...(candidateBranchNameOverride
diff --git a/src/shared/constants.ts b/src/shared/constants.ts
index 03370a86fe6..21a093f43bd 100644
--- a/src/shared/constants.ts
+++ b/src/shared/constants.ts
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ export function getDefaultPersistedState(homedir: string): PersistedState {
     folderWorkspaces: [],
     sparsePresetsByRepo: {},
     retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo: {},
+    retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace: {},
     worktreeMeta: {},
     worktreeLineageById: {},
     workspaceLineageByChildKey: {},
diff --git a/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.test.ts b/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.test.ts
index 47cc5e79ee6..e10ba3e9ddf 100644
--- a/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 import {
   getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate,
+  getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate,
   isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict
 } from './worktree-create-retry-policy'
 
@@ -10,6 +11,12 @@ describe('client worktree create retry policy', () => {
     expect(getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate('feature', 1)).toBe('feature-2')
   })
 
+  it('keeps generated retries on canonical tiers', () => {
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate('nautilus-2', 0)).toBe('nautilus-2')
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate('nautilus-2', 1)).toBe('nautilus-3')
+    expect(getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate('nautilus-2-3', 0)).toBe('nautilus-4')
+  })
+
   it('retries only known branch and review conflicts', () => {
     expect(isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict('Branch already exists locally')).toBe(true)
     expect(isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict('Branch "x" already exists.')).toBe(true)
diff --git a/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.ts b/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.ts
index 295dd3c7839..e45da0d5530 100644
--- a/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.ts
+++ b/src/shared/new-workspace/worktree-create-retry-policy.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+import {
+  CREATURE_POOL_NAMES,
+  creatureNameAtTier,
+  creatureNameTier
+} from '../worktree/retired-name-registry'
+
 export const CLIENT_WORKTREE_CREATE_MAX_ATTEMPTS = 25
 
 // Why: mixed-version runtimes can still return these legacy conflicts instead
@@ -13,6 +19,49 @@ export function getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(value: string, attempt: number)
   return attempt === 0 ? value : `${value}-${attempt + 1}`
 }
 
+function generatedNameIdentity(value: string): { poolName: string; tier: number } | null {
+  const normalized = value.trim().toLowerCase()
+  const canonicalTier = creatureNameTier(normalized)
+  if (canonicalTier !== null) {
+    const poolName =
+      canonicalTier === 1 ? normalized : normalized.slice(0, normalized.lastIndexOf('-'))
+    return { poolName, tier: canonicalTier }
+  }
+  let poolName = normalized
+  let tier = 1
+  let suffixCount = 0
+  for (;;) {
+    const match = /-(\d{1,6})$/.exec(poolName)
+    if (!match) {
+      break
+    }
+    const suffix = Number(match[1])
+    if (suffix < 2 || tier + suffix - 1 > 999_999) {
+      return null
+    }
+    tier += suffix - 1
+    suffixCount += 1
+    poolName = poolName.slice(0, match.index)
+  }
+  return suffixCount > 1 && CREATURE_POOL_NAMES.has(poolName) ? { poolName, tier } : null
+}
+
+export function isGeneratedWorktreeCreateName(value: string): boolean {
+  return generatedNameIdentity(value) !== null
+}
+
+export function getGeneratedWorktreeCreateRetryCandidate(
+  value: string,
+  attempt: number,
+  minimumTier = 1
+): string {
+  const identity = generatedNameIdentity(value)
+  if (!identity) {
+    return getClientWorktreeCreateCandidate(value, attempt)
+  }
+  return creatureNameAtTier(identity.poolName, Math.max(identity.tier, minimumTier) + attempt)
+}
+
 export function isRetryableWorktreeCreateConflict(message: string): boolean {
   return RETRYABLE_WORKTREE_CREATE_CONFLICT_PATTERNS.some((pattern) => pattern.test(message))
 }
diff --git a/src/shared/persisted-state-types.ts b/src/shared/persisted-state-types.ts
index c66c335188c..ee6d1f97fa7 100644
--- a/src/shared/persisted-state-types.ts
+++ b/src/shared/persisted-state-types.ts
@@ -67,12 +67,13 @@ export type PersistedState = {
   /** Generated workspace names already issued, keyed by repoId. Suppresses reissuing a name so a
    *  recreated workspace never lands on a prior occupant's path and inherits agent state keyed to
    *  that cwd. Grows monotonically within a repo — entries are never removed on workspace deletion
-   *  — and is dropped wholesale when the repo is removed. Readers union across every repo that
-   *  creates into the same cwd namespace, so the storage key stays the stable repo id while the
-   *  guarantee follows the path.
+   *  — and the repo-keyed copy is dropped when the repo is removed. Readers union across repos
+   *  that create into the same cwd namespace; remote namespaces also retain a compact tombstone.
    *
    *  Stored compacted, not as a flat list: a fully spent tier collapses into the row's watermark. */
   retiredWorktreeNamesByRepo?: Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry>
+  /** Compacted remote cwd tombstones outlive repo ids, so remove/re-add cannot reissue a path. */
+  retiredWorktreeNamesByNamespace?: Record<string, RetiredNameRegistry>
   /** Per paired device last tab selection by worktree; keeps mobile navigation across host restarts. */
   mobileClientTabSelectionsByDeviceId?: PersistedMobileClientTabSelections
   worktreeMeta: Record<string, WorktreeMeta>