diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/decks.rs b/rslib/src/backend/decks.rs
index 578d6b558..5f88279af 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/decks.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/decks.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,7 @@ use std::convert::TryFrom;
 use super::Backend;
 use crate::{
     backend_proto::{self as pb},
-    decks::{
-        human_deck_name_to_native, native_deck_name_to_human, Deck, DeckId, DeckSchema11,
-        FilteredSearchOrder,
-    },
+    decks::{DeckSchema11, FilteredSearchOrder},
     prelude::*,
     scheduler::filtered::FilteredDeckForUpdate,
 };
@@ -89,7 +86,6 @@ impl DecksService for Backend {
                 .storage
                 .get_deck(input.into())?
                 .ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?
-                .with_human_name()
                 .into())
         })
     }
@@ -241,7 +237,7 @@ impl From<Deck> for pb::Deck {
     fn from(d: Deck) -> Self {
         pb::Deck {
             id: d.id.0,
-            name: native_deck_name_to_human(&d.name),
+            name: d.name.human_name(),
             mtime_secs: d.mtime_secs.0,
             usn: d.usn.0,
             common: Some(d.common),
@@ -256,7 +252,7 @@ impl TryFrom<pb::Deck> for Deck {
     fn try_from(d: pb::Deck) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
         Ok(Deck {
             id: DeckId(d.id),
-            name: human_deck_name_to_native(&d.name),
+            name: NativeDeckName::from_human_name(&d.name),
             mtime_secs: TimestampSecs(d.mtime_secs),
             usn: Usn(d.usn),
             common: d.common.unwrap_or_default(),
diff --git a/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs b/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
index 98ff36c4d..5f99075b3 100644
--- a/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ mod test {
             }
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            col.storage.get_deck(DeckId(123))?.unwrap().name,
+            col.storage.get_deck(DeckId(123))?.unwrap().name.as_str(),
             "recovered123"
         );
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/add.rs b/rslib/src/decks/add.rs
index bf30c9c35..ed4d2ce0e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/add.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/add.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,12 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
-use super::name::{immediate_parent_name, normalize_native_name};
+use super::name::immediate_parent_name;
 use crate::{error::FilteredDeckError, prelude::*};
-use std::borrow::Cow;
 
 impl Collection {
-    /// Normalize deck name and rename if not unique. Bumps mtime and usn if
+    /// Rename deck if not unique. Bumps mtime and usn if
     /// name was changed, but otherwise leaves it the same.
     pub(super) fn prepare_deck_for_update(&mut self, deck: &mut Deck, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
-        if let Cow::Owned(name) = normalize_native_name(&deck.name) {
-            deck.name = name;
-            deck.set_modified(usn);
-        }
         self.ensure_deck_name_unique(deck, usn)
     }
 
@@ -69,7 +64,7 @@ impl Collection {
         if name_changed {
             // after updating, we need to ensure all grandparents exist, which may not be the case
             // in the parent->child case
-            self.create_missing_parents(&deck.name, usn)?;
+            self.create_missing_parents(deck.name.as_str(), usn)?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -89,7 +84,7 @@ impl Collection {
     pub(crate) fn recover_missing_deck(&mut self, did: DeckId, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
         let mut deck = Deck::new_normal();
         deck.id = did;
-        deck.name = format!("recovered{}", did);
+        deck.name = NativeDeckName(format!("recovered{}", did));
         deck.set_modified(usn);
         self.add_or_update_single_deck_with_existing_id(&mut deck, usn)
     }
@@ -100,7 +95,7 @@ impl Collection {
     /// Caller must have done necessarily validation on name.
     fn add_parent_deck(&mut self, machine_name: &str, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
         let mut deck = Deck::new_normal();
-        deck.name = machine_name.into();
+        deck.name = NativeDeckName(machine_name.into());
         deck.set_modified(usn);
         self.add_deck_undoable(&mut deck)
     }
@@ -109,20 +104,20 @@ impl Collection {
     /// If they don't exist, create them.
     /// Returns an error if a DB operation fails, or if the first existing parent is a filtered deck.
     fn match_or_create_parents(&mut self, deck: &mut Deck, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
-        let child_split: Vec<_> = deck.name.split('\x1f').collect();
-        if let Some(parent_deck) = self.first_existing_parent(&deck.name, 0)? {
+        let child_split: Vec<_> = deck.name.components().collect();
+        if let Some(parent_deck) = self.first_existing_parent(deck.name.as_str(), 0)? {
             if parent_deck.is_filtered() {
                 return Err(FilteredDeckError::MustBeLeafNode.into());
             }
-            let parent_count = parent_deck.name.matches('\x1f').count() + 1;
+            let parent_count = parent_deck.name.components().count();
             let need_create = parent_count != child_split.len() - 1;
-            deck.name = format!(
+            deck.name = NativeDeckName(format!(
                 "{}\x1f{}",
                 parent_deck.name,
                 &child_split[parent_count..].join("\x1f")
-            );
+            ));
             if need_create {
-                self.create_missing_parents(&deck.name, usn)?;
+                self.create_missing_parents(deck.name.as_str(), usn)?;
             }
             Ok(())
         } else if child_split.len() == 1 {
@@ -130,7 +125,7 @@ impl Collection {
             Ok(())
         } else {
             // no existing parents
-            self.create_missing_parents(&deck.name, usn)
+            self.create_missing_parents(deck.name.as_str(), usn)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/filtered.rs b/rslib/src/decks/filtered.rs
index 84c065dca..e1a676328 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/filtered.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/filtered.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ impl Deck {
         filt.reschedule = true;
         Deck {
             id: DeckId(0),
-            name: "".into(),
+            name: NativeDeckName("".into()),
             mtime_secs: TimestampSecs(0),
             usn: Usn(0),
             common: DeckCommon {
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/mod.rs b/rslib/src/decks/mod.rs
index 557ab0b39..faf115962 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/mod.rs
@@ -25,9 +25,8 @@ use crate::{
     text::sanitize_html_no_images,
 };
 pub(crate) use counts::DueCounts;
-pub(crate) use name::{
-    human_deck_name_to_native, immediate_parent_name, native_deck_name_to_human,
-};
+pub(crate) use name::immediate_parent_name;
+pub use name::NativeDeckName;
 pub use schema11::DeckSchema11;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ define_newtype!(DeckId, i64);
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Deck {
     pub id: DeckId,
-    pub name: String,
+    pub name: NativeDeckName,
     pub mtime_secs: TimestampSecs,
     pub usn: Usn,
     pub common: DeckCommon,
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ impl Deck {
     pub fn new_normal() -> Deck {
         Deck {
             id: DeckId(0),
-            name: "".into(),
+            name: NativeDeckName("".into()),
             mtime_secs: TimestampSecs(0),
             usn: Usn(0),
             common: DeckCommon {
@@ -150,12 +149,12 @@ impl Collection {
     }
 
     pub fn get_or_create_normal_deck(&mut self, human_name: &str) -> Result<Deck> {
-        let native_name = human_deck_name_to_native(human_name);
-        if let Some(did) = self.storage.get_deck_id(&native_name)? {
+        let name = NativeDeckName::from_human_name(human_name);
+        if let Some(did) = self.storage.get_deck_id(name.as_str())? {
             self.storage.get_deck(did).map(|opt| opt.unwrap())
         } else {
             let mut deck = Deck::new_normal();
-            deck.name = native_name;
+            deck.name = name;
             self.add_or_update_deck(&mut deck)?;
             Ok(deck)
         }
@@ -164,18 +163,14 @@ impl Collection {
     /// Get a deck based on its human name. If you have a machine name,
     /// use the method in storage instead.
     pub(crate) fn get_deck_id(&self, human_name: &str) -> Result<Option<DeckId>> {
-        let machine_name = human_deck_name_to_native(&human_name);
-        self.storage.get_deck_id(&machine_name)
+        self.storage
+            .get_deck_id(NativeDeckName::from_human_name(human_name).as_str())
     }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
-    use crate::{
-        collection::{open_test_collection, Collection},
-        error::Result,
-        search::SortMode,
-    };
+    use crate::{collection::open_test_collection, prelude::*, search::SortMode};
 
     fn sorted_names(col: &Collection) -> Vec<String> {
         col.storage
@@ -212,7 +207,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let _ = col.get_or_create_normal_deck("foo::bar::baz")?;
         let mut top_deck = col.get_or_create_normal_deck("foo")?;
-        top_deck.name = "other".into();
+        top_deck.name = NativeDeckName("other".into());
         col.add_or_update_deck(&mut top_deck)?;
         assert_eq!(
             sorted_names(&col),
@@ -221,7 +216,7 @@ mod test {
 
         // should do the right thing in the middle of the tree as well
         let mut middle = col.get_or_create_normal_deck("other::bar")?;
-        middle.name = "quux\x1ffoo".into();
+        middle.name = NativeDeckName("quux\x1ffoo".into());
         col.add_or_update_deck(&mut middle)?;
         assert_eq!(
             sorted_names(&col),
@@ -234,7 +229,7 @@ mod test {
         // quux::foo -> quux::foo::baz::four
         // means quux::foo::baz2 should be quux::foo::baz::four::baz2
         // and a new quux::foo should have been created
-        middle.name = "quux\x1ffoo\x1fbaz\x1ffour".into();
+        middle.name = NativeDeckName("quux\x1ffoo\x1fbaz\x1ffour".into());
         col.add_or_update_deck(&mut middle)?;
         assert_eq!(
             sorted_names(&col),
@@ -251,9 +246,9 @@ mod test {
         );
 
         // should handle name conflicts
-        middle.name = "other".into();
+        middle.name = NativeDeckName("other".into());
         col.add_or_update_deck(&mut middle)?;
-        assert_eq!(middle.name, "other+");
+        assert_eq!(middle.name.as_str(), "other+");
 
         // public function takes human name
         col.rename_deck(middle.id, "one::two")?;
@@ -282,7 +277,7 @@ mod test {
         let mut col = open_test_collection();
 
         let mut default = col.get_or_create_normal_deck("default")?;
-        default.name = "one\x1ftwo".into();
+        default.name = NativeDeckName("one\x1ftwo".into());
         col.add_or_update_deck(&mut default)?;
 
         // create a non-default deck confusingly named "default"
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/name.rs b/rslib/src/decks/name.rs
index ff0dc7294..603bbe64c 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/name.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/name.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,74 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 use crate::{prelude::*, text::normalize_to_nfc};
+use itertools::Itertools;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct NativeDeckName(pub String);
+
+impl NativeDeckName {
+    pub fn from_human_name(name: &str) -> Self {
+        NativeDeckName(
+            name.split("::")
+                .map(normalized_deck_name_component)
+                .join("\x1f"),
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn human_name(&self) -> String {
+        self.0.replace('\x1f', "::")
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn add_suffix(&mut self, suffix: &str) {
+        self.0 += suffix
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn components(&self) -> std::str::Split<'_, char> {
+        self.0.split('\x1f')
+    }
+
+    /// Determine name to rename a deck to, when `self` is dropped on `target`.
+    /// `target` being unset represents a drop at the top or bottom of the deck list.
+    /// The returned name should be used to replace `self`.
+    pub(crate) fn reparented_name(&self, target: Option<&NativeDeckName>) -> Option<Self> {
+        let dragged_base = self.0.rsplit('\x1f').next().unwrap();
+        if let Some(target) = target {
+            if target.0.starts_with(&self.0) {
+                // foo onto foo::bar, or foo onto itself -> no-op
+                None
+            } else {
+                // foo::bar onto baz -> baz::bar
+                Some(NativeDeckName(format!("{}\x1f{}", target.0, dragged_base)))
+            }
+        } else {
+            // foo::bar onto top level -> bar
+            Some(NativeDeckName(dragged_base.into()))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Replace the old parent's name with the new parent's name in self's name, where the old
+    /// parent's name is expected to be a prefix.
+    fn reparent(&mut self, old_parent: &NativeDeckName, new_parent: &NativeDeckName) {
+        self.0 = std::iter::once(new_parent.as_str())
+            .chain(self.components().skip(old_parent.components().count()))
+            .join("\x1f")
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for NativeDeckName {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Deck {
     pub fn human_name(&self) -> String {
-        self.name.replace("\x1f", "::")
-    }
-
-    // Mutate name to human representation for sharing.
-    pub fn with_human_name(mut self) -> Self {
-        self.name = self.human_name();
-        self
+        self.name.human_name()
     }
 }
 
@@ -32,7 +89,7 @@ impl Collection {
         self.transact(Op::RenameDeck, |col| {
             let existing_deck = col.storage.get_deck(did)?.ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?;
             let mut deck = existing_deck.clone();
-            deck.name = human_deck_name_to_native(new_human_name);
+            deck.name = NativeDeckName::from_human_name(new_human_name);
             col.update_deck_inner(&mut deck, existing_deck, col.usn()?)
         })
     }
@@ -40,18 +97,13 @@ impl Collection {
     pub(super) fn rename_child_decks(
         &mut self,
         old: &Deck,
-        new_name: &str,
+        new_name: &NativeDeckName,
         usn: Usn,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let children = self.storage.child_decks(old)?;
-        let old_component_count = old.name.matches('\x1f').count() + 1;
-
         for mut child in children {
             let original = child.clone();
-            let child_components: Vec<_> = child.name.split('\x1f').collect();
-            let child_only = &child_components[old_component_count..];
-            let new_name = format!("{}\x1f{}", new_name, child_only.join("\x1f"));
-            child.name = new_name;
+            child.name.reparent(&old.name, new_name);
             child.set_modified(usn);
             self.update_single_deck_undoable(&mut child, original)?;
         }
@@ -61,14 +113,12 @@ impl Collection {
 
     pub(crate) fn ensure_deck_name_unique(&self, deck: &mut Deck, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
         loop {
-            match self.storage.get_deck_id(&deck.name)? {
-                Some(did) if did == deck.id => {
-                    break;
-                }
+            match self.storage.get_deck_id(deck.name.as_str())? {
+                Some(did) if did == deck.id => break,
                 None => break,
                 _ => (),
             }
-            deck.name += "+";
+            deck.name.add_suffix("+");
             deck.set_modified(usn);
         }
 
@@ -108,59 +158,10 @@ fn normalized_deck_name_component(comp: &str) -> Cow<str> {
     }
 }
 
-pub(super) fn normalize_native_name(name: &str) -> Cow<str> {
-    if name
-        .split('\x1f')
-        .any(|comp| matches!(normalized_deck_name_component(comp), Cow::Owned(_)))
-    {
-        let comps: Vec<_> = name
-            .split('\x1f')
-            .map(normalized_deck_name_component)
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-        comps.join("\x1f").into()
-    } else {
-        // no changes required
-        name.into()
-    }
-}
-
-pub(crate) fn human_deck_name_to_native(name: &str) -> String {
-    let mut out = String::with_capacity(name.len());
-    for comp in name.split("::") {
-        out.push_str(&normalized_deck_name_component(comp));
-        out.push('\x1f');
-    }
-    out.trim_end_matches('\x1f').into()
-}
-
-pub(crate) fn native_deck_name_to_human(name: &str) -> String {
-    name.replace('\x1f', "::")
-}
-
 pub(crate) fn immediate_parent_name(machine_name: &str) -> Option<&str> {
     machine_name.rsplitn(2, '\x1f').nth(1)
 }
 
-/// Determine name to rename a deck to, when `dragged` is dropped on `dropped`.
-/// `dropped` being unset represents a drop at the top or bottom of the deck list.
-/// The returned name should be used to rename `dragged`.
-/// Arguments are expected in 'machine' form with an \x1f separator.
-pub(crate) fn reparented_name(dragged: &str, dropped: Option<&str>) -> Option<String> {
-    let dragged_base = dragged.rsplit('\x1f').next().unwrap();
-    if let Some(dropped) = dropped {
-        if dropped.starts_with(dragged) {
-            // foo onto foo::bar, or foo onto itself -> no-op
-            None
-        } else {
-            // foo::bar onto baz -> baz::bar
-            Some(format!("{}\x1f{}", dropped, dragged_base))
-        }
-    } else {
-        // foo::bar onto top level -> bar
-        Some(dragged_base.into())
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
@@ -177,54 +178,52 @@ mod test {
 
     #[test]
     fn from_human() {
-        assert_eq!(&human_deck_name_to_native("foo"), "foo");
-        assert_eq!(&human_deck_name_to_native("foo::bar"), "foo\x1fbar");
-        assert_eq!(&human_deck_name_to_native("fo\x1fo::ba\nr"), "foo\x1fbar");
-        assert_eq!(
-            &human_deck_name_to_native("foo::::baz"),
-            "foo\x1fblank\x1fbaz"
-        );
-    }
+        fn native_name(name: &str) -> String {
+            NativeDeckName::from_human_name(name).0
+        }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn normalize() {
-        assert_eq!(&normalize_native_name("foo\x1fbar"), "foo\x1fbar");
-        assert_eq!(&normalize_native_name("fo\u{a}o\x1fbar"), "foo\x1fbar");
+        assert_eq!(native_name("foo"), "foo");
+        assert_eq!(native_name("foo::bar"), "foo\x1fbar");
+        assert_eq!(native_name("foo::::baz"), "foo\x1fblank\x1fbaz");
+        // normalize
+        assert_eq!(native_name("fo\x1fo::ba\nr"), "foo\x1fbar");
+        assert_eq!(native_name("fo\u{a}o\x1fbar"), "foobar");
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn drag_drop() {
         // use custom separator to make the tests easier to read
-        fn n(s: &str) -> String {
-            s.replace(":", "\x1f")
+        fn n(s: &str) -> NativeDeckName {
+            NativeDeckName(s.replace(":", "\x1f"))
         }
 
         #[allow(clippy::unnecessary_wraps)]
-        fn n_opt(s: &str) -> Option<String> {
+        fn n_opt(s: &str) -> Option<NativeDeckName> {
             Some(n(s))
         }
 
+        fn reparented_name(drag: &str, drop: Option<&str>) -> Option<NativeDeckName> {
+            n(drag).reparented_name(drop.map(n).as_ref())
+        }
+
         assert_eq!(reparented_name("drag", Some("drop")), n_opt("drop:drag"));
         assert_eq!(reparented_name("drag", None), n_opt("drag"));
-        assert_eq!(reparented_name(&n("drag:child"), None), n_opt("child"));
+        assert_eq!(reparented_name("drag:child", None), n_opt("child"));
         assert_eq!(
-            reparented_name(&n("drag:child"), Some(&n("drop:deck"))),
+            reparented_name("drag:child", Some("drop:deck")),
             n_opt("drop:deck:child")
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            reparented_name(&n("drag:child"), Some("drag")),
+            reparented_name("drag:child", Some("drag")),
             n_opt("drag:child")
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            reparented_name(&n("drag:child:grandchild"), Some("drag")),
+            reparented_name("drag:child:grandchild", Some("drag")),
             n_opt("drag:grandchild")
         );
         // drops to child not supported
-        assert_eq!(
-            reparented_name(&n("drag"), Some(&n("drag:child:grandchild"))),
-            None
-        );
+        assert_eq!(reparented_name("drag", Some("drag:child:grandchild")), None);
         // name doesn't change when deck dropped on itself
-        assert_eq!(reparented_name(&n("foo:bar"), Some(&n("foo:bar"))), None);
+        assert_eq!(reparented_name("foo:bar", Some("foo:bar")), None);
     }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/remove.rs b/rslib/src/decks/remove.rs
index 997100dfa..37b4ab627 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/remove.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/remove.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ impl Collection {
             // if the default deck is included, just ensure it's reset to the default
             // name, as we've already removed its cards
             let mut modified_default = deck.clone();
-            modified_default.name = self.tr.deck_config_default_name().into();
+            modified_default.name = NativeDeckName(self.tr.deck_config_default_name().into());
             self.prepare_deck_for_update(&mut modified_default, usn)?;
             modified_default.set_modified(usn);
             self.update_single_deck_undoable(&mut modified_default, deck.clone())?;
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/reparent.rs b/rslib/src/decks/reparent.rs
index 97186953c..15de58cbb 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/reparent.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/reparent.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
-use super::name::reparented_name;
 use crate::{error::FilteredDeckError, prelude::*};
 
 impl Collection {
@@ -28,14 +27,14 @@ impl Collection {
                     return Err(FilteredDeckError::MustBeLeafNode.into());
                 }
                 target_deck = target;
-                target_name = Some(target_deck.name.as_str());
+                target_name = Some(&target_deck.name);
             }
         }
 
         let mut count = 0;
         for deck in deck_ids {
             if let Some(mut deck) = self.storage.get_deck(*deck)? {
-                if let Some(new_name) = reparented_name(&deck.name, target_name) {
+                if let Some(new_name) = deck.name.reparented_name(target_name) {
                     count += 1;
                     let orig = deck.clone();
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks/schema11.rs b/rslib/src/decks/schema11.rs
index bf08625b0..23b873a27 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks/schema11.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks/schema11.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
-use super::DeckId;
-use super::{
-    human_deck_name_to_native, native_deck_name_to_human, DeckCommon, FilteredDeck,
-    FilteredSearchTerm, NormalDeck,
-};
+use super::{DeckCommon, FilteredDeck, FilteredSearchTerm, NormalDeck};
 use crate::{
     prelude::*,
     serde::{default_on_invalid, deserialize_bool_from_anything, deserialize_number_from_string},
@@ -239,7 +235,7 @@ impl From<DeckSchema11> for Deck {
         match deck {
             DeckSchema11::Normal(d) => Deck {
                 id: d.common.id,
-                name: human_deck_name_to_native(&d.common.name),
+                name: NativeDeckName::from_human_name(&d.common.name),
                 mtime_secs: d.common.mtime,
                 usn: d.common.usn,
                 common: (&d.common).into(),
@@ -247,7 +243,7 @@ impl From<DeckSchema11> for Deck {
             },
             DeckSchema11::Filtered(d) => Deck {
                 id: d.common.id,
-                name: human_deck_name_to_native(&d.common.name),
+                name: NativeDeckName::from_human_name(&d.common.name),
                 mtime_secs: d.common.mtime,
                 usn: d.common.usn,
                 common: (&d.common).into(),
@@ -362,7 +358,7 @@ impl From<Deck> for DeckCommonSchema11 {
         DeckCommonSchema11 {
             id: deck.id,
             mtime: deck.mtime_secs,
-            name: native_deck_name_to_human(&deck.name),
+            name: deck.human_name(),
             usn: deck.usn,
             today: (&deck).into(),
             study_collapsed: deck.common.study_collapsed,
diff --git a/rslib/src/prelude.rs b/rslib/src/prelude.rs
index 544c5dac3..53acf131b 100644
--- a/rslib/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/prelude.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pub use crate::{
     collection::Collection,
     config::BoolKey,
     deckconf::{DeckConf, DeckConfId},
-    decks::{Deck, DeckId, DeckKind},
+    decks::{Deck, DeckId, DeckKind, NativeDeckName},
     error::{AnkiError, Result},
     i18n::I18n,
     notes::{Note, NoteId},
diff --git a/rslib/src/scheduler/filtered/mod.rs b/rslib/src/scheduler/filtered/mod.rs
index 2bcf709e3..153ec7cca 100644
--- a/rslib/src/scheduler/filtered/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/scheduler/filtered/mod.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::convert::{TryFrom, TryInto};
 
 use crate::{
     config::ConfigKey,
-    decks::{human_deck_name_to_native, FilteredDeck, FilteredSearchTerm},
+    decks::{FilteredDeck, FilteredSearchTerm},
     error::FilteredDeckError,
     search::writer::{deck_search, normalize_search},
 };
@@ -146,8 +146,11 @@ impl Collection {
         Ok(position)
     }
 
-    fn get_next_filtered_deck_name(&self) -> String {
-        format!("Filtered Deck {}", TimestampSecs::now().time_string())
+    fn get_next_filtered_deck_name(&self) -> NativeDeckName {
+        NativeDeckName(format!(
+            "Filtered Deck {}",
+            TimestampSecs::now().time_string()
+        ))
     }
 
     fn add_or_update_filtered_deck_inner(
@@ -253,6 +256,6 @@ impl TryFrom<Deck> for FilteredDeckForUpdate {
 
 fn apply_update_to_filtered_deck(deck: &mut Deck, update: FilteredDeckForUpdate) {
     deck.id = update.id;
-    deck.name = human_deck_name_to_native(&update.human_name);
+    deck.name = NativeDeckName::from_human_name(&update.human_name);
     deck.kind = DeckKind::Filtered(update.config);
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/search/sqlwriter.rs b/rslib/src/search/sqlwriter.rs
index 652adc0c7..ab133409d 100644
--- a/rslib/src/search/sqlwriter.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/search/sqlwriter.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use super::{
 use crate::{
     card::{CardQueue, CardType},
     collection::Collection,
-    decks::human_deck_name_to_native,
     error::Result,
     notes::field_checksum,
     notetype::NotetypeId,
@@ -347,11 +346,11 @@ impl SqlWriter<'_> {
                             .storage
                             .get_deck(current_did)?
                             .map(|d| d.name)
-                            .unwrap_or_else(|| "Default".into())
+                            .unwrap_or_else(|| NativeDeckName("Default".into()))
                             .as_str(),
                     )
                 } else {
-                    human_deck_name_to_native(&to_re(deck))
+                    NativeDeckName::from_human_name(&to_re(deck)).0
                 };
 
                 // convert to a regex that includes child decks
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/deck/mod.rs b/rslib/src/storage/deck/mod.rs
index 2853e903d..1bbe43447 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/deck/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/deck/mod.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use crate::{
     decks::{Deck, DeckCommon, DeckId, DeckKindContainer, DeckSchema11, DueCounts},
     error::{AnkiError, DbErrorKind, Result},
     i18n::I18n,
+    prelude::*,
     timestamp::TimestampMillis,
 };
 use prost::Message;
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ fn row_to_deck(row: &Row) -> Result<Deck> {
     let id = row.get(0)?;
     Ok(Deck {
         id,
-        name: row.get(1)?,
+        name: NativeDeckName(row.get(1)?),
         mtime_secs: row.get(2)?,
         usn: row.get(3)?,
         common,
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
         let mut kind = vec![];
         kind_enum.encode(&mut kind)?;
         let count = stmt.execute(params![
-            deck.name,
+            deck.name.as_str(),
             deck.mtime_secs,
             deck.usn,
             common,
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
         kind_enum.encode(&mut kind)?;
         stmt.execute(params![
             deck.id,
-            deck.name,
+            deck.name.as_str(),
             deck.mtime_secs,
             deck.usn,
             common,
@@ -228,9 +229,13 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
     /// Return the parents of `child`, with the most immediate parent coming first.
     pub(crate) fn parent_decks(&self, child: &Deck) -> Result<Vec<Deck>> {
         let mut decks: Vec<Deck> = vec![];
-        while let Some(parent_name) =
-            immediate_parent_name(decks.last().map(|d| &d.name).unwrap_or_else(|| &child.name))
-        {
+        while let Some(parent_name) = immediate_parent_name(
+            decks
+                .last()
+                .map(|d| &d.name)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| &child.name)
+                .as_str(),
+        ) {
             if let Some(parent_did) = self.get_deck_id(parent_name)? {
                 let parent = self.get_deck(parent_did)?.unwrap();
                 decks.push(parent);
@@ -324,7 +329,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
             "create temporary table active_decks (id integer primary key not null);"
         ))?;
 
-        let top = &current.name;
+        let top = current.name.as_str();
         let prefix_start = &format!("{}\x1f", top);
         let prefix_end = &format!("{}\x20", top);
 
@@ -341,7 +346,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
         let mut deck = Deck::new_normal();
         deck.id.0 = 1;
         // fixme: separate key
-        deck.name = tr.deck_config_default_name().into();
+        deck.name = NativeDeckName(tr.deck_config_default_name().into());
         self.add_or_update_deck_with_existing_id(&deck)
     }
 
@@ -356,12 +361,12 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
                 deck.set_modified(usn);
             }
             loop {
-                let name = UniCase::new(deck.name.clone());
+                let name = UniCase::new(deck.name.0.clone());
                 if !names.contains(&name) {
                     names.insert(name);
                     break;
                 }
-                deck.name.push('_');
+                deck.name.add_suffix("_");
                 deck.set_modified(usn);
             }
             self.add_or_update_deck_with_existing_id(&deck)?;
diff --git a/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs b/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
index 6634aa2bc..d0076d16e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
@@ -1500,7 +1500,7 @@ mod test {
         })?;
 
         let mut deck = col2.storage.get_deck(deck.id)?.unwrap();
-        deck.name = "newer".into();
+        deck.name = NativeDeckName("newer".into());
         col2.add_or_update_deck(&mut deck)?;
 
         let mut nt = col2.storage.get_notetype(nt.id)?.unwrap();