diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
index 469d3a3..dc8d258 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ func TestEverySeatIsListedIncludingTheOnesNobodyHolds(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestANodeSeatListsEveryMachineHoldingIt(t *testing.T) {
 	rows, _ := seatsHeld(catalogue.Seats(), []catalogue.Held{
-		{Claim: "the-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "node2", Module: "nftables"},
-		{Claim: "the-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "anchor", Module: "nftables"},
+		{Claim: "mesh-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "node2", Module: "nftables"},
+		{Claim: "mesh-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "anchor", Module: "nftables"},
 		// Resolved twice, reported once: a machine is one holder however many passes saw it.
-		{Claim: "the-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "anchor", Module: "nftables"},
+		{Claim: "mesh-packet-filter", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Node: "anchor", Module: "nftables"},
 	})
 	for _, r := range rows {
-		if r.Seat != "the-packet-filter" {
+		if r.Seat != "mesh-packet-filter" {
 			continue
 		}
 		if len(r.Holders) != 2 || r.Holders[0].Node != "anchor" || r.Holders[1].Node != "node2" {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/source.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/source.go
index 760dda7..292db22 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/source.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/source.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 // seat's holder runs.
 
 // gitSeat is the seat a self-hosted repository lives on.
-const gitSeat = "git"
+const gitSeat = "mesh-git"
 
 // buildSource is where a build's repository is: a URL, or a path on a seat's holder.
 type buildSource struct {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/source_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/source_test.go
index cd0030b..9602471 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/source_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/source_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 func forgeHolding(port any) catalogue.World {
 	return catalogue.World{
-		Held: []catalogue.Held{{Claim: "git", Scope: catalogue.ScopeMesh, Node: "anchor", Module: "gitea"}},
+		Held: []catalogue.Held{{Claim: "mesh-git", Scope: catalogue.ScopeMesh, Node: "anchor", Module: "gitea"}},
 		Offered: map[string][]catalogue.Provider{"git": {
 			// A second forge that does not hold the seat, so taking the first one found would be wrong.
 			{Node: "archive", At: "archive.internal", Module: "gitea-mirror",
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func forgeHolding(port any) catalogue.World {
 }
 
 func TestARepositoryOnTheSeatIsClonedFromItsHolder(t *testing.T) {
-	got, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(float64(3000)), "git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
+	got, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(float64(3000)), "mesh-git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestARepositoryOnTheSeatIsClonedFromItsHolder(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAMovedForgeIsFollowedWithoutRewritingAnything(t *testing.T) {
 	// The whole point: the node gave the forge another port, and the same recorded path clones
 	// from the new one. Nothing recorded contained the old one to be wrong.
-	got, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(float64(3100)), "git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
+	got, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(float64(3100)), "mesh-git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -45,11 +45,11 @@ func TestAMovedForgeIsFollowedWithoutRewritingAnything(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWithNobodyHoldingTheSeatASelfHostedBuildIsRefusedAndSaysWhy(t *testing.T) {
-	_, err := clonedFromSeat(catalogue.World{}, "git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
+	_, err := clonedFromSeat(catalogue.World{}, "mesh-git", "novox/mesh-catalog")
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a repository was cloned from a forge the mesh does not have")
 	}
-	for _, want := range []string{"nobody holds the git seat", "without --self"} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"nobody holds the mesh-git seat", "without --self"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
 			t.Fatalf("the refusal does not say %q: %v", want, err)
 		}
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func TestAnExternalRepositoryIsClonedExactlyAsGiven(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAHolderOffThePrivateNetworkIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	world := forgeHolding(float64(3000))
 	world.Offered["git"][1].At = ""
-	if _, err := clonedFromSeat(world, "git", "novox/mesh-catalog"); err == nil ||
+	if _, err := clonedFromSeat(world, "mesh-git", "novox/mesh-catalog"); err == nil ||
 		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "private network") {
 		t.Fatalf("a forge nothing can reach was cloned from: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func TestAHolderOffThePrivateNetworkIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestAHolderServingNoPortIsRefusedRatherThanGuessed(t *testing.T) {
 	// A default port would be the forge's address guessed, which is what this exists to stop.
-	if _, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(nil), "git", "novox/mesh-catalog"); err == nil {
+	if _, err := clonedFromSeat(forgeHolding(nil), "mesh-git", "novox/mesh-catalog"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a port was guessed for a forge that serves none")
 	}
 }
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ func TestAnAddressGivenAsAPathOnTheForgeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestASourceOnTheSeatReadsAsAPathNotAnAddress(t *testing.T) {
-	s := buildSource{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Seat: "git"}
-	if got := s.String(); got != "novox/mesh-catalog on the git seat" {
+	s := buildSource{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Seat: "mesh-git"}
+	if got := s.String(); got != "novox/mesh-catalog on the mesh-git seat" {
 		t.Fatalf("read as %q", got)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/artifact_store_seat_test.go b/internal/catalogue/artifact_store_seat_test.go
index 4b658e4..182dcac 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/artifact_store_seat_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/artifact_store_seat_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func TestASecondArtifactStoreAnywhereIsRefusedByName(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// A second one, on any other machine, is refused — and the refusal names the seat.
-	elsewhere := World{Held: []Held{{Claim: "the-artifact-store", Scope: ScopeMesh,
+	elsewhere := World{Held: []Held{{Claim: "mesh-artifact-store", Scope: ScopeMesh,
 		Node: "anchor", Module: "distribution"}}}
 	other := workstation()
 	other.Name = "laptop"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func TestASecondArtifactStoreAnywhereIsRefusedByName(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("a second store was accepted on another machine; it would offer artifact-store a " +
 			"second time and every consumer elsewhere would refuse to choose")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "the-artifact-store") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "one per mesh") {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mesh-artifact-store") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "one per mesh") {
 		t.Fatalf("refused without naming the seat: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/broker_seat_test.go b/internal/catalogue/broker_seat_test.go
index 13ca8b3..a99bc71 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/broker_seat_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/broker_seat_test.go
@@ -63,3 +63,42 @@ func TestTheAmqpBrokerDoesNotContendForTheSeat(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("the amqp broker was refused beside the mesh bus: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// **A seat and the interface it delivers are different names, and renaming one must not rename
+// the other** (novox/hq ADR 0118). This nearly went wrong: the seats were renamed to the `mesh-*`
+// prefix, and a blanket search-and-replace also renamed `npm-package-registry` and `git` where
+// they are *provisions* — which a consumer requires and a provider offers. The tests failed with
+// "the package registry is served on <nil>", which does not say "you renamed an interface".
+func TestRenamingASeatDidNotRenameTheInterfaceItDelivers(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, pair := range []struct{ seat, delivers string }{
+		{"mesh-git", "git"},
+		{"mesh-npm-package-registry", "npm-package-registry"},
+		{"mesh-artifact-store", "artifact-store"},
+		{"mesh-store", "postgres-database"},
+		{"mesh-broker", "mesh-bus"},
+	} {
+		s, known := SeatNamed(pair.seat)
+		if !known {
+			t.Fatalf("%q is not a seat", pair.seat)
+		}
+		if s.Delivers != pair.delivers {
+			t.Errorf("the %s seat delivers %q, expected %q — renaming the seat moved the "+
+				"interface with it, and every consumer requiring it would stop resolving",
+				pair.seat, s.Delivers, pair.delivers)
+		}
+		if _, isSeat := SeatNamed(pair.delivers); isSeat {
+			t.Errorf("%q is both an interface and a seat name; one of the renames was incomplete",
+				pair.delivers)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// And a manifest written against an old seat name is told what it became, rather than refused as
+// unknown — the courtesy the `needs`/`own-secrets` rename already sets.
+func TestAnOldSeatNameSaysWhatItBecame(t *testing.T) {
+	m := Manifest{Module: "old", Claims: []Claim{{Name: "the-catalogue", Scope: ScopeMesh}}}
+	got := strings.Join(claimProblems(m), "; ")
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "the-catalogue") || !strings.Contains(got, "mesh-catalog") {
+		t.Fatalf("the refusal does not name both the old and the new: %q", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/domain_test.go b/internal/catalogue/domain_test.go
index 967985b..299543b 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/domain_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/domain_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ func networkingShelf(extra ...Manifest) map[string]Manifest {
 		{Module: "networking", Requires: []string{"private-network", "name-resolution"}},
 		{Module: "mesh-wireguard", Computed: "mesh-wireguard",
 			Provides: Offers("private-network", "mesh-addressing"),
-			Claims:   []Claim{{Name: "the-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
+			Claims:   []Claim{{Name: "mesh-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
 		{Module: "mesh-names", Computed: "mesh-names",
 			Provides: Offers("name-resolution"), Requires: []string{"mesh-addressing"}},
 	}
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func TestASecondVPNTurnsItIntoAChoice(t *testing.T) {
 	// back under another name.
 	_, err := Resolve(networkingShelf(
 		Manifest{Module: "tailscale", Provides: Offers("private-network"),
-			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "the-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
+			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "mesh-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
 	), []string{"networking"}, workstation(), World{})
 
 	if err == nil {
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func TestChoosingIsAssigning(t *testing.T) {
 	got, err := Resolve(networkingShelf(
 		Manifest{Module: "tailscale",
 			Provides: Offers("private-network", "name-resolution"),
-			Claims:   []Claim{{Name: "the-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
+			Claims:   []Claim{{Name: "mesh-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
 	), []string{"networking", "tailscale"}, workstation(), World{})
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -85,13 +85,13 @@ func TestChoosingOneVPNCannotDragTheOtherBackIn(t *testing.T) {
 	// machine could run two VPNs for two purposes — but being *the* one the mesh runs over is.
 	_, err := Resolve(networkingShelf(
 		Manifest{Module: "tailscale", Provides: Offers("private-network"),
-			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "the-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
+			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "mesh-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode}}},
 	), []string{"networking", "tailscale"}, workstation(), World{})
 
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a machine was given two private networks without being told")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "the-private-network") {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mesh-private-network") {
 		t.Fatalf("the refusal does not say what collided: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/foundation_manifests_test.go b/internal/catalogue/foundation_manifests_test.go
index 5565993..10661bf 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/foundation_manifests_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/foundation_manifests_test.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func TestTheForgesPortIsGivenLikeAnyOtherProvidersPort(t *testing.T) {
 // unused.
 func TestTheBuilderRequiresTheRegistryTheNpmSeatDelivers(t *testing.T) {
 	builder := catalogueManifest(t, "builder")
-	seat, _ := SeatNamed("npm-package-registry")
+	seat, _ := SeatNamed("mesh-npm-package-registry")
 	var requires bool
 	for _, r := range builder.Requires {
 		requires = requires || r == seat.Delivers
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestTheForgeHoldsTheNpmAndGitSeats(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, c := range forge.Claims {
 		holds[c.Name] = true
 	}
-	for _, seat := range []string{"npm-package-registry", "git"} {
+	for _, seat := range []string{"mesh-npm-package-registry", "mesh-git"} {
 		if !holds[seat] {
 			t.Errorf("gitea does not claim the %s seat: %+v", seat, forge.Claims)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/resolver_manifests_test.go b/internal/catalogue/resolver_manifests_test.go
index 3336380..baccc94 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/resolver_manifests_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/resolver_manifests_test.go
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func TestTwoThingsDecidingWhatAMachineAsksAreRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("resolv-conf and resolved-split-dns were both assigned to one machine")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "the-resolver-configuration") {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mesh-resolver-configuration") {
 		t.Fatalf("the refusal does not say what was claimed: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/seats.go b/internal/catalogue/seats.go
index 6305ec3..bfb3f7e 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/seats.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/seats.go
@@ -49,17 +49,17 @@ var seats = []Seat{
 	// `mesh-bus` is the mesh's own; `nats` is a private NATS server a module may provide as a
 	// backing service, the way `amqp` is provided (ADR 0119). Never the same name.
 	{Name: "mesh-broker", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "mesh-bus", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0079"},
-	{Name: "the-artifact-store", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "artifact-store", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0075"},
-	{Name: "the-catalogue", Scope: ScopeMesh, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "npm-package-registry", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0109"},
-	{Name: "git", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "git", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0111"},
-	{Name: "the-build-machine", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-dns-port", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-intrusion-prevention", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-packet-filter", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-resolver-configuration", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
-	{Name: "the-showcase", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-artifact-store", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "artifact-store", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0075"},
+	{Name: "mesh-catalog", Scope: ScopeMesh, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "npm-package-registry", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0109"},
+	{Name: "mesh-git", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "git", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0111"},
+	{Name: "mesh-build-machine", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-dns-port", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-intrusion-prevention", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-packet-filter", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-private-network", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-resolver-configuration", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
+	{Name: "mesh-showcase", Scope: ScopeNode, Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0110"},
 }
 
 // Seats is every seat the mesh defines, in reading order.
@@ -98,6 +98,16 @@ func SeatDelivering(provision string) (Seat, bool) {
 func claimProblems(m Manifest) []string {
 	var problems []string
 	for _, c := range m.Claims {
+		if now, was := renamedSeats[c.Name]; was {
+			// Named rather than refused as unknown: whoever wrote it knew what they meant, and
+			// the mesh knows what it is called now — the same courtesy the `needs`/`own-secrets`
+			// rename gets. Without this the refusal would be "not a seat", which sends somebody
+			// reading code for a name that is one character different.
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
+				"%s claims %q, which is now called %q (novox/hq ADR 0118: the mesh's own seats "+
+					"are named mesh-*, and the prefix is what reserves them)", m.Module, c.Name, now))
+			continue
+		}
 		seat, known := SeatNamed(c.Name)
 		if !known {
 			// Not one of the mesh's own, which no longer means it is not a seat: a module may
@@ -162,3 +172,28 @@ func HolderAmong(provision string, providers []Provider, held []Held) (Provider,
 	}
 	return Provider{}, false
 }
+
+// renamedSeats is what the mesh's own seats used to be called (novox/hq ADR 0118).
+//
+// **A rename here is not a data migration**, which ADR 0118 assumed it was and a progressive
+// insight there corrects: a seat's holding is *derived* at resolution from the claims in
+// manifests (`resolve.go`), never stored, so there are no recorded old names to rewrite. What
+// exists is source — manifests in the catalogue — and this list is how one written against the
+// old name is told what it became rather than refused as unknown.
+//
+// It is kept, not retired after the catalogue is updated: a module lives in its own repository
+// ([ADR 0069]) and may be registered from anywhere, so an old name can arrive long after the
+// catalogue beside this checkout stopped using one.
+var renamedSeats = map[string]string{
+	"the-artifact-store":         "mesh-artifact-store",
+	"the-catalogue":              "mesh-catalog",
+	"npm-package-registry":       "mesh-npm-package-registry",
+	"git":                        "mesh-git",
+	"the-build-machine":          "mesh-build-machine",
+	"the-dns-port":               "mesh-dns-port",
+	"the-intrusion-prevention":   "mesh-intrusion-prevention",
+	"the-packet-filter":          "mesh-packet-filter",
+	"the-private-network":        "mesh-private-network",
+	"the-resolver-configuration": "mesh-resolver-configuration",
+	"the-showcase":               "mesh-showcase",
+}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/seats_test.go b/internal/catalogue/seats_test.go
index 3555c8c..bace194 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/seats_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/seats_test.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func TestAClaimOnASeatAnotherModuleDeclaresIsAccepted(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestASeatClaimedAtAnotherScopeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
-	_, err := ParseManifest(claimed(`[{"name":"npm-package-registry","scope":"node"}]`))
+	_, err := ParseManifest(claimed(`[{"name":"mesh-npm-package-registry","scope":"node"}]`))
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a mesh seat was held per node")
 	}
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func TestASeatClaimedAtAnotherScopeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 func TestADeliveringSeatIsOnlyHeldByAModuleThatProvides(t *testing.T) {
 	// Holding it makes the module the mesh's answer for the provision. A module that cannot answer
 	// would be the answer anyway, and every consumer would be sent to it.
-	raw := []byte(`{"module":"thing","version":"1","claims":[{"name":"git","scope":"mesh"}]}`)
+	raw := []byte(`{"module":"thing","version":"1","claims":[{"name":"mesh-git","scope":"mesh"}]}`)
 	_, err := ParseManifest(raw)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a module holding the git seat need not provide git")
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestEveryManifestInUseClaimsASeatTheMeshDefines(t *testing.T) {
 func registryShelf() map[string]Manifest {
 	return shelf(
 		Manifest{Module: "gitea", Version: "1", Provides: FromAnywhere("npm-package-registry"),
-			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh}}},
+			Claims: []Claim{{Name: "mesh-npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh}}},
 		Manifest{Module: "verdaccio", Version: "1", Provides: FromAnywhere("npm-package-registry")},
 		Manifest{Module: "builder", Version: "1", Requires: []string{"npm-package-registry"}},
 	)
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func twoRegistries() map[string][]Provider {
 }
 
 func giteaHoldsTheSeat() []Held {
-	return []Held{{Claim: "npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh, Node: "anchor", Module: "gitea"}}
+	return []Held{{Claim: "mesh-npm-package-registry", Scope: ScopeMesh, Node: "anchor", Module: "gitea"}}
 }
 
 func TestTheSeatsHolderAnswersWhenSeveralProvide(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/overlay/generator.go b/internal/overlay/generator.go
index eb0b9c9..4eb054a 100644
--- a/internal/overlay/generator.go
+++ b/internal/overlay/generator.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ const Addressing = "mesh-addressing"
 // for two different purposes. Being **the** one the mesh runs over is singular, and without
 // saying so a person who chose a different VPN can still end up with this one dragged back in by
 // something that needed the mesh's own addresses. Which is exactly what happened, once.
-const TheNetwork = "the-private-network"
+const TheNetwork = "mesh-private-network"
 
 // **A resolver's data went the same way as the names.** Two constants used to sit here — a
 // `mesh-resolver` module that would write the machines as wildcards, and a `resolver-data`