diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cee485e7..4e5e372b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ All notable changes to this project are documented here.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Added
+- Suggest roster-aware unused identity names during join onboarding (#178)
+
 ## [1.1.1] - 2026-06-25
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/SKILL.md b/SKILL.md
index 1137b2c7..454128cd 100644
--- a/SKILL.md
+++ b/SKILL.md
@@ -35,11 +35,13 @@ After this runs once, `~/.agents/skills/agmsg/` is populated and you can skip St
 ```bash
 ~/.agents/skills/agmsg/scripts/whoami.sh "$(pwd)" <type>
 # type: claude-code, codex, gemini, antigravity, copilot
-# Returns: agent=... / multiple=true ... / suggest=true ... / not_joined=true ...
+# Returns: agent=... / multiple=true ... / suggest=true ... / not_joined=true ...; join-needed paths may include suggested=<n1,n2,...>
 ```
 
 ### Step 2a: If not in a team — join one
 
+If whoami output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options for the agent name. They are advisory; the user may still type a different name.
+
 Ask the user for a team name and agent name, then run:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/scripts/data/name-pool.txt b/scripts/data/name-pool.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c40f2d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/data/name-pool.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+# Bundled identity-name pool for roster-aware onboarding suggestions.
+# Keep entries lowercase ASCII [a-z0-9-]. These are agent identities, not tool
+# types: prefer names like noether/lovelace over cc/codex.
+ada
+agnesi
+albert
+amalie
+anaximander
+archimedes
+arete
+artin
+astrid
+aurora
+babbage
+banach
+bell
+bernoulli
+boole
+brahe
+cannon
+cantor
+carson
+cartan
+cassini
+ceres
+chandrasekhar
+clarke
+copernicus
+curie
+darwin
+dedekind
+dirac
+easley
+edison
+emmy
+erdos
+euler
+faraday
+fibonacci
+fleming
+franklin
+galileo
+galois
+gauss
+germain
+gosling
+grace
+halley
+hamilton
+hardy
+hawking
+heisenberg
+hilbert
+hopper
+hypatia
+ibn-sina
+joule
+katherine
+kepler
+khayyam
+knuth
+kovalevskaya
+laplace
+leavitt
+leibniz
+lovelace
+margulis
+maxwell
+mendel
+minkowski
+mirzakhani
+newton
+noether
+norton
+ohm
+pasteur
+planck
+poisson
+ramanujan
+riemann
+rosalind
+rubin
+sagan
+shannon
+sonya
+sophie
+tao
+tesla
+thales
+turing
+tycho
+vonneumann
+wiles
+wright
+wu
+yang
+yukawa
+zermelo
+zhukovsky
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/antigravity/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/antigravity/template.md
index 2182df78..8ad614ad 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/antigravity/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/antigravity/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> antigravity "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=antigravity project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=antigravity project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> antigravity "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/claude-code/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/claude-code/template.md
index 7ba6fdb9..e67ddda9 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/claude-code/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/claude-code/template.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> claude-code "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=claude-code project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=claude-code project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> claude-code "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/codex/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/codex/template.md
index bd0f1c71..e2d8ca46 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/codex/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/codex/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> codex "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=codex project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=codex project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> codex "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/copilot/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/copilot/template.md
index a5709643..0e34ec57 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/copilot/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/copilot/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> copilot "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=copilot project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=copilot project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> copilot "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/cursor/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/cursor/template.md
index 59602189..4c957a2b 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/cursor/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/cursor/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> cursor "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=cursor project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=cursor project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> cursor "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/gemini/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/gemini/template.md
index 353cf975..eea26dd1 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/gemini/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/gemini/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> gemini "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=gemini project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=gemini project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> gemini "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/grok-build/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/grok-build/template.md
index ef008c7d..890fbcf3 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/grok-build/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/grok-build/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> grok-build "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=grok-build project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=grok-build project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> grok-build "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/hermes/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/hermes/template.md
index f6f4c1b0..854878e3 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/hermes/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/hermes/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> hermes "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=hermes project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=hermes project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> hermes "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/drivers/types/opencode/template.md b/scripts/drivers/types/opencode/template.md
index d263bfdd..9e98006e 100644
--- a/scripts/drivers/types/opencode/template.md
+++ b/scripts/drivers/types/opencode/template.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
 → Ask the user which agent name to use for this session, then go to **Execute**.
 
 **C) Not in a team:**
-`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`)
+`not_joined=true available_teams=<t1,t2,...>` (or `available_teams=none`), optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → Show the user the available teams from the output, then:
 
   > **First-time setup required.**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Four possible outputs:
   > - **Agent name**: this agent's identity within the team
 
   1. Ask: "Enter a team name (joins existing or creates new)"
-  2. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"
+  2. If the output includes `suggested=`, show those unused roster-aware identity names as options. Ask: "Enter a name for this agent"; empty input may use the first suggested name.
   3. **You MUST use join.sh** — run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> opencode "$(pwd)"`
   4. Show the result and explain:
 
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ Four possible outputs:
   6. Then check inbox for the newly joined team.
 
 **D) Suggestions for reuse:**
-`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=opencode project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`
+`suggest=true agents=<n1,n2,...> teams=<t1,t2,...> type=opencode project=<path> available_teams=<t1,t2,...>`, optionally `suggested=<n1,n2,...>`
 → No exact registration exists for this project, but there are same-type agent names registered elsewhere.
 
-  1. Show the suggested agent names to the user.
+  1. Show the reuse candidates from `agents=` and the unused roster-aware names from `suggested=` (if present).
   2. Ask whether to reuse one of those names or choose a new one.
   3. Ask for the team name to join (existing or new).
   4. Run: `~/.agents/skills/__SKILL_NAME__/scripts/join.sh <team> <agent_name> opencode "$(pwd)"`
diff --git a/scripts/lib/roster.sh b/scripts/lib/roster.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04492814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/lib/roster.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Read-only helpers for team rosters and onboarding name suggestions.
+
+_agmsg_roster_lib_dir() {
+  if [ -n "${BASH_SOURCE[0]:-}" ]; then
+    cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd
+  elif [ -n "${SKILL_DIR:-}" ]; then
+    cd "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/lib" && pwd
+  else
+    echo "Error: cannot resolve roster lib dir (BASH_SOURCE and SKILL_DIR empty)" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+_AGMSG_ROSTER_LIB_DIR="$(_agmsg_roster_lib_dir)"
+_AGMSG_ROSTER_SCRIPTS_DIR="$(cd "$_AGMSG_ROSTER_LIB_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+_AGMSG_ROSTER_SKILL_DIR="$(cd "$_AGMSG_ROSTER_SCRIPTS_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC1091
+source "$_AGMSG_ROSTER_SCRIPTS_DIR/lib/storage.sh"
+
+agmsg_roster_config_path() {
+  local team="$1"
+  printf '%s\n' "$_AGMSG_ROSTER_SKILL_DIR/teams/$team/config.json"
+}
+
+agmsg_roster_names() {
+  local team="$1"
+  local config_file
+  config_file="$(agmsg_roster_config_path "$team")"
+  [ -f "$config_file" ] || return 0
+
+  local cfg_sql
+  cfg_sql="$(agmsg_sql_readfile_path "$config_file")"
+  agmsg_sqlite_mem "
+    WITH raw(json) AS (SELECT CAST(readfile('$cfg_sql') AS TEXT)),
+    cfg(json) AS (SELECT CASE WHEN json_valid(json) THEN json END FROM raw)
+    SELECT key
+    FROM cfg, json_each(json_extract(cfg.json, '\$.agents'))
+    ORDER BY key;
+  "
+}
+
+agmsg_name_pool_path() {
+  printf '%s\n' "$_AGMSG_ROSTER_SCRIPTS_DIR/data/name-pool.txt"
+}
+
+agmsg_name_hash() {
+  printf '%s' "$1" | cksum | awk '{print $1}'
+}
+
+agmsg_roster_contains() {
+  local needle="$1"
+  shift
+  local item
+  for item in "$@"; do
+    [ "$item" = "$needle" ] && return 0
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+agmsg_pool_names() {
+  local pool
+  pool="$(agmsg_name_pool_path)"
+  [ -f "$pool" ] || return 0
+  while IFS= read -r name || [ -n "$name" ]; do
+    name="${name%%#*}"
+    name="${name//[[:space:]]/}"
+    [ -n "$name" ] || continue
+    case "$name" in
+      *[!abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789-]*) continue ;;
+      *) printf '%s\n' "$name" ;;
+    esac
+  done < "$pool"
+}
+
+agmsg_suggest_names() {
+  local team="$1"
+  local count="${2:-5}"
+  case "$count" in ''|*[!0-9]*) count=5 ;; esac
+  [ "$count" -gt 0 ] || count=5
+
+  local roster=() pool=()
+  local name
+  while IFS= read -r name; do
+    [ -n "$name" ] && roster+=("$name")
+  done < <(agmsg_roster_names "$team")
+  while IFS= read -r name; do
+    [ -n "$name" ] && pool+=("$name")
+  done < <(agmsg_pool_names)
+
+  local pool_len="${#pool[@]}"
+  [ "$pool_len" -gt 0 ] || return 0
+
+  local offset idx emitted=0 candidate
+  offset=$(( $(agmsg_name_hash "$team") % pool_len ))
+  for ((idx = 0; idx < pool_len && emitted < count; idx++)); do
+    candidate="${pool[$(((offset + idx) % pool_len))]}"
+    if ! agmsg_roster_contains "$candidate" ${roster[@]+"${roster[@]}"}; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$candidate"
+      roster+=("$candidate")
+      emitted=$((emitted + 1))
+    fi
+  done
+
+  local suffix=2 base
+  while [ "$emitted" -lt "$count" ]; do
+    for base in "${pool[@]}"; do
+      candidate="${base}-${suffix}"
+      if ! agmsg_roster_contains "$candidate" ${roster[@]+"${roster[@]}"}; then
+        printf '%s\n' "$candidate"
+        roster+=("$candidate")
+        emitted=$((emitted + 1))
+        [ "$emitted" -ge "$count" ] && break
+      fi
+    done
+    suffix=$((suffix + 1))
+  done
+}
diff --git a/scripts/whoami.sh b/scripts/whoami.sh
index aeeb80b9..cf5db1f4 100755
--- a/scripts/whoami.sh
+++ b/scripts/whoami.sh
@@ -96,11 +96,13 @@ TEAMS_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/../teams"
 source "$SCRIPT_DIR/lib/resolve-project.sh"
 # shellcheck disable=SC1091
 source "$SCRIPT_DIR/lib/storage.sh"
+# shellcheck disable=SC1091
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/lib/roster.sh"
 PROJECT_PATH="$(agmsg_resolve_project "$PROJECT_PATH" "$AGENT_TYPE")"
 AGENT_TYPE_SQL=$(printf '%s' "$AGENT_TYPE" | sed "s/'/''/g")
 
 if [ ! -d "$TEAMS_DIR" ]; then
-  echo "not_joined=true available_teams=none"
+  echo "not_joined=true available_teams=none suggested=$(agmsg_suggest_names __new-team__ 5 | paste -sd, -)"
   exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -149,7 +151,9 @@ for config_file in "$TEAMS_DIR"/*/config.json; do
 done
 
 if [ -z "$EXACT_MATCHES" ] && [ -z "$SUGGESTED_MATCHES" ]; then
-  echo "not_joined=true available_teams=${ALL_TEAMS:-none}"
+  FIRST_TEAM="${ALL_TEAMS%%,*}"
+  SUGGESTED_NAMES="$(agmsg_suggest_names "${FIRST_TEAM:-__new-team__}" 5 | paste -sd, -)"
+  echo "not_joined=true available_teams=${ALL_TEAMS:-none} suggested=$SUGGESTED_NAMES"
   exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -157,7 +161,9 @@ if [ -z "$EXACT_MATCHES" ]; then
   # SUGGESTED_MATCHES is "team\tagent" per line; preserve that order.
   AGENT_NAMES=$(echo "$SUGGESTED_MATCHES" | cut -f2 | awk '!seen[$0]++' | paste -sd, -)
   TEAM_NAMES=$(echo "$SUGGESTED_MATCHES" | cut -f1 | awk '!seen[$0]++' | paste -sd, -)
-  echo "suggest=true agents=$AGENT_NAMES teams=$TEAM_NAMES type=$AGENT_TYPE project=$PROJECT_PATH available_teams=${ALL_TEAMS:-none}"
+  FIRST_TEAM="${TEAM_NAMES%%,*}"
+  SUGGESTED_NAMES="$(agmsg_suggest_names "$FIRST_TEAM" 5 | paste -sd, -)"
+  echo "suggest=true agents=$AGENT_NAMES teams=$TEAM_NAMES type=$AGENT_TYPE project=$PROJECT_PATH available_teams=${ALL_TEAMS:-none} suggested=$SUGGESTED_NAMES"
   exit 0
 fi
 
diff --git a/tests/test_roster.bats b/tests/test_roster.bats
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..843d9038
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_roster.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+load test_helper
+
+setup() {
+  setup_test_env
+}
+
+teardown() {
+  teardown_test_env
+}
+
+@test "roster: lists team agent names" {
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam ada claude-code /tmp/proj-a
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam noether codex /tmp/proj-b
+  run bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_roster_names myteam"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "ada" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "noether" ]]
+}
+
+@test "roster: missing team is empty and successful" {
+  run bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_roster_names nope"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [ -z "$output" ]
+}
+
+@test "roster: suggestions are safe with empty roster under set -u" {
+  run bash -c "set -u; source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_suggest_names emptyteam 5"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [ "$(printf '%s\n' "$output" | sed '/^$/d' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" -eq 5 ]
+}
+
+@test "whoami: first run with no teams includes suggested names" {
+  run bash "$SCRIPTS/whoami.sh" /tmp/first-project claude-code
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "not_joined=true" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "available_teams=none" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ suggested=[^[:space:]]+ ]]
+}
+@test "roster: suggestions do not collide with existing roster names" {
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam ada claude-code /tmp/proj-a
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam lovelace codex /tmp/proj-b
+  run bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_suggest_names myteam 5"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ ! "$output" =~ (^|[[:space:]])ada($|[[:space:]]) ]]
+  [[ ! "$output" =~ (^|[[:space:]])lovelace($|[[:space:]]) ]]
+  [ "$(printf '%s\n' "$output" | sed '/^$/d' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" -eq 5 ]
+}
+
+@test "roster: suggestions are deterministic for the same roster" {
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam ada claude-code /tmp/proj-a
+  first="$(bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_suggest_names myteam 5")"
+  second="$(bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_suggest_names myteam 5")"
+  [ "$first" = "$second" ]
+}
+
+@test "roster: suggestions use clean identity names" {
+  run bash -c "source '$SCRIPTS/lib/roster.sh'; agmsg_suggest_names myteam 10"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  while IFS= read -r name; do
+    [ -n "$name" ] || continue
+    [[ "$name" =~ ^[a-z0-9-]+$ ]]
+    [ "$name" != "codex" ]
+    [ "$name" != "cc" ]
+  done <<< "$output"
+}
+
+@test "whoami: not_joined includes roster-aware suggested names" {
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam ada claude-code /tmp/other
+  run bash "$SCRIPTS/whoami.sh" /tmp/new-project claude-code
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "not_joined=true" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
+  [[ ! "$output" =~ "suggested=ada" ]]
+}
+
+@test "whoami: reuse suggestions also include unused suggested names" {
+  bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" myteam ada claude-code /tmp/proj-a
+  run bash "$SCRIPTS/whoami.sh" /tmp/proj-b claude-code
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggest=true" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "agents=ada" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
+  [[ ! "$output" =~ "suggested=ada" ]]
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_team.bats b/tests/test_team.bats
index e39aba15..13c0a504 100644
--- a/tests/test_team.bats
+++ b/tests/test_team.bats
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ teardown() {
   run bash "$SCRIPTS/whoami.sh" /tmp/unknown claude-code
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   [[ "$output" =~ "not_joined=true" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
 }
 
 @test "whoami: returns multiple when multiple identities" {
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ teardown() {
   bash "$SCRIPTS/join.sh" team1 alice claude-code /tmp/other
   run bash "$SCRIPTS/whoami.sh" /tmp/nothere claude-code
   [[ "$output" =~ "available_teams=team1" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
 }
 
 @test "whoami: finds re-joined agent in another project registration" {
@@ -185,6 +187,7 @@ teardown() {
   [[ "$output" =~ "suggest=true" ]]
   [[ "$output" =~ "agents=alice" ]]
   [[ "$output" =~ "available_teams=myteam" ]]
+  [[ "$output" =~ "suggested=" ]]
 }
 
 @test "whoami: auto-detects claude-code from CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_ID env" {