diff --git a/CInterface/Battling/Creature.cpp b/CInterface/Battling/Creature.cpp
index 4aff838..2ffc7d9 100644
--- a/CInterface/Battling/Creature.cpp
+++ b/CInterface/Battling/Creature.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,13 @@ SIMPLE_GET_FUNC(Creature, GetCurrentHealth, uint32_t);
 OPTIONAL_GET_FUNC(Creature, GetBattle, Battle*);
 OPTIONAL_GET_FUNC(Creature, GetBattleSide, BattleSide*);
 SIMPLE_GET_FUNC(Creature, IsOnBattleField, bool);
-export const char* CreatureLib_Creature_GetNickname(Creature* p) { return p->GetNickname().data(); }
+export const char* CreatureLib_Creature_GetNickname(Creature* p) {
+    auto s = p->GetNickname();
+    if (s.has_value()) {
+        return p->GetNickname().value().data();
+    }
+    return "";
+}
 export void CreatureLib_Creature_SetNickname(Creature* p, const char* nickname) { p->SetNickname(nickname); }
 export bool CreatureLib_Creature_HasType(Creature* p, uint8_t type) { return p->HasType(type); }
 export size_t CreatureLib_Creature_GetTypeCount(Creature* p) { return p->GetTypes().size(); }
diff --git a/src/Battling/Models/CreateCreature.hpp b/src/Battling/Models/CreateCreature.hpp
index 919362f..fbf5803 100644
--- a/src/Battling/Models/CreateCreature.hpp
+++ b/src/Battling/Models/CreateCreature.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace CreatureLib::Battling {
         ArbUt::StringView _species;
         ArbUt::StringView _variant = "default"_cnc;
         uint8_t _level;
-        std::string _nickname = "";
+        std::optional<std::string> _nickname = "";
 
         ArbUt::StringView _talent = ""_cnc;
         Library::Gender _gender = static_cast<Library::Gender>(-1);
diff --git a/src/Battling/Models/Creature.cpp b/src/Battling/Models/Creature.cpp
index 733b76f..96cb839 100644
--- a/src/Battling/Models/Creature.cpp
+++ b/src/Battling/Models/Creature.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace CreatureLib::Battling {
                        const ArbUt::BorrowedPtr<const Library::CreatureSpecies>& species,
                        const ArbUt::BorrowedPtr<const Library::SpeciesVariant>& variant, level_int_t level,
                        uint32_t experience, uint32_t uid, Library::Gender gender, uint8_t coloring,
-                       ArbUt::OptionalBorrowedPtr<const Library::Item> heldItem, std::string nickname,
+                       ArbUt::OptionalBorrowedPtr<const Library::Item> heldItem, std::optional<std::string> nickname,
                        const Library::TalentIndex& talent, const std::vector<LearnedAttack*>& attacks,
                        bool allowedExperienceGain)
         : _library(library), _species(species), _variant(variant), _level(level), _experience(experience),
diff --git a/src/Battling/Models/Creature.hpp b/src/Battling/Models/Creature.hpp
index 1479fb7..9bf5d6f 100644
--- a/src/Battling/Models/Creature.hpp
+++ b/src/Battling/Models/Creature.hpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace CreatureLib::Battling {
             std::unordered_set<ArbUt::BorrowedPtr<Creature>> SeenOpponents;
         } _battleData = {};
 
-        std::string _nickname = {};
+        std::optional<std::string> _nickname = {};
         CreatureLib::Library::TalentIndex _talentIndex = {};
         std::unique_ptr<BattleScript> _activeTalent = {};
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace CreatureLib::Battling {
                  const ArbUt::BorrowedPtr<const Library::CreatureSpecies>& species,
                  const ArbUt::BorrowedPtr<const Library::SpeciesVariant>& variant, level_int_t level,
                  uint32_t experience, uint32_t uid, Library::Gender gender, uint8_t coloring,
-                 ArbUt::OptionalBorrowedPtr<const Library::Item> heldItem, std::string nickname,
+                 ArbUt::OptionalBorrowedPtr<const Library::Item> heldItem, std::optional<std::string> nickname,
                  const Library::TalentIndex& talent, const std::vector<LearnedAttack*>& attacks,
                  bool allowedExperienceGain = true);
 
@@ -117,7 +117,12 @@ namespace CreatureLib::Battling {
         inline const CreatureIndex& GetBattleIndex() const noexcept { return _battleData.Index; }
         inline bool IsOnBattleField() const { return _battleData.OnBattleField; }
 
-        inline std::string_view GetNickname() const noexcept { return _nickname; }
+        inline std::optional<std::string_view> GetNickname() const noexcept {
+            if (_nickname.has_value()) {
+                return _nickname.value();
+            }
+            return {};
+        }
         inline void SetNickname(std::string nickname) noexcept { _nickname = nickname; }
         const CreatureLib::Library::TalentIndex& GetRealTalent() const noexcept { return _talentIndex; }
         const ArbUt::StringView& GetActiveTalent() const;