diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d7d96174..38637535 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ and this project adheres to
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- 🔒️(backend) enforce display name setting on rename API
+
 ## [1.31.0] - 2026-09-08
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py b/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
index 9cd7f49a..0a4ab1d6 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
@@ -909,6 +909,15 @@ class RoomViewSet(
         """Rename the current participant in the room."""
         room = self.get_object()
 
+        if (
+            not settings.AUTHENTICATED_PARTICIPANTS_CAN_EDIT_DISPLAY_NAME
+            and request.user.is_authenticated
+        ):
+            return drf_response.Response(
+                {"error": "Authenticated participants cannot edit their display name"},
+                status=drf_status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+            )
+
         serializer = serializers.RenameParticipantSerializer(data=request.data)
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
 
diff --git a/src/backend/core/tests/rooms/test_api_rooms_rename_toggle.py b/src/backend/core/tests/rooms/test_api_rooms_rename_toggle.py
index 72511926..f8d7916c 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/tests/rooms/test_api_rooms_rename_toggle.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/tests/rooms/test_api_rooms_rename_toggle.py
@@ -372,6 +372,67 @@ def test_rename_participant_unexpected_twirp_error(mock_livekit_client, room, to
     mock_livekit_client.aclose.assert_called_once()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["John Doe", "Admin", "Room Owner"])
+def test_rename_participant_forbidden_when_display_name_edit_disabled(
+    mock_livekit_client, settings, room, token, name
+):
+    """
+    Test rename is rejected for authenticated users when the self-hoster
+    disables AUTHENTICATED_PARTICIPANTS_CAN_EDIT_DISPLAY_NAME.
+    """
+    settings.AUTHENTICATED_PARTICIPANTS_CAN_EDIT_DISPLAY_NAME = False
+
+    client = APIClient()
+    url = reverse("rooms-rename", kwargs={"pk": room.id})
+    response = client.post(
+        url, {"name": name}, format="json", HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=f"Bearer {token}"
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
+    assert response.data == {
+        "error": "Authenticated participants cannot edit their display name"
+    }
+    mock_livekit_client.room.update_participant.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_rename_participant_allowed_when_display_name_edit_enabled(
+    mock_livekit_client, settings, room, token
+):
+    """Test rename still works for authenticated users when the setting is enabled."""
+    settings.AUTHENTICATED_PARTICIPANTS_CAN_EDIT_DISPLAY_NAME = True
+
+    client = APIClient()
+    url = reverse("rooms-rename", kwargs={"pk": room.id})
+    response = client.post(
+        url, {"name": "John Doe"}, format="json", HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=f"Bearer {token}"
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    mock_livekit_client.room.update_participant.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_rename_participant_anonymous_allowed_when_display_name_edit_disabled(
+    mock_livekit_client, settings, room, anonymous_token
+):
+    """
+    Test the setting only restricts authenticated users: anonymous participants
+    have no account name to fall back on and can still rename themselves.
+    """
+    settings.AUTHENTICATED_PARTICIPANTS_CAN_EDIT_DISPLAY_NAME = False
+
+    client = APIClient()
+    url = reverse("rooms-rename", kwargs={"pk": room.id})
+    response = client.post(
+        url,
+        {"name": "Guest User"},
+        format="json",
+        HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=f"Bearer {anonymous_token}",
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    mock_livekit_client.room.update_participant.assert_called_once()
+
+
 def test_rename_participant_success_anonymous(
     mock_livekit_client, room, anonymous_token
 ):