diff --git a/app/models/item.py b/app/models/item.py
index 14bd92b..cd6491f 100644
--- a/app/models/item.py
+++ b/app/models/item.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class Item(Base):
 
     # Relationships
     user = relationship("User", back_populates="items")
-    collection = relationship("Collection", back_populates="items")
+    collection = relationship("Collection", back_populates="items", lazy="selectin")
     tags = relationship("Tag", secondary=item_tags, back_populates="items", lazy="selectin")
     marks = relationship(
         "Mark",
@@ -106,5 +106,9 @@ class Item(Base):
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
     )
 
+    @property
+    def collection_name(self) -> str | None:
+        return self.collection.name if self.collection else None
+
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"<Item {self.name}>"
diff --git a/app/schemas/item.py b/app/schemas/item.py
index 4dc7485..470bf64 100644
--- a/app/schemas/item.py
+++ b/app/schemas/item.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class ItemRead(ItemBase):
     id: UUID
     user_id: UUID
     collection_id: UUID | None
+    collection_name: str | None = None
     tags: list[TagRead] = Field(default_factory=list)
     marks: list[MarkRead] = Field(default_factory=list)
     provenance_entries: list[ProvenanceEntryRead] = Field(default_factory=list)
diff --git a/tests/test_items.py b/tests/test_items.py
index 86cb0e2..224e4b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_items.py
+++ b/tests/test_items.py
@@ -578,3 +578,61 @@ async def test_items_isolation(
     data = response.json()
     assert len(data) == 1
     assert data[0]["name"] == "My Item"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_collection_name_in_list(
+    client: AsyncClient, session: AsyncSession, test_user: User, auth_client
+):
+    """Test that collection_name appears in list items response."""
+    collection = Collection(user_id=str(test_user.id), name="Watches")
+    session.add(collection)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(collection)
+
+    item = Item(user_id=str(test_user.id), name="Rolex", collection_id=collection.id)
+    session.add(item)
+    await session.commit()
+
+    response = await client.get("/items")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert len(data) == 1
+    assert data[0]["collection_name"] == "Watches"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_collection_name_in_get(
+    client: AsyncClient, session: AsyncSession, test_user: User, auth_client
+):
+    """Test that collection_name appears in single item response."""
+    collection = Collection(user_id=str(test_user.id), name="Coins")
+    session.add(collection)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(collection)
+
+    item = Item(user_id=str(test_user.id), name="Gold Coin", collection_id=collection.id)
+    session.add(item)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(item)
+
+    response = await client.get(f"/items/{item.id}")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["collection_name"] == "Coins"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_collection_name_null_without_collection(
+    client: AsyncClient, session: AsyncSession, test_user: User, auth_client
+):
+    """Test that collection_name is null when item has no collection."""
+    item = Item(user_id=str(test_user.id), name="Loose Item")
+    session.add(item)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(item)
+
+    response = await client.get(f"/items/{item.id}")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["collection_name"] is None