diff --git a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
index 601cdd5..1b83dd8 100644
--- a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
+++ b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ for the narrow pane.
   boundary for the stage, backend context, and routing rows. MIDI starts with eight cards; every
   backend can add a card or delete any individual card in condensed and expanded Outputs drawers.
   The `N outputs` chip always reports that same set. `MFParam.id` is semantic identity; array position
-  is not. Settings decides whether edits retain spare network capacity or keep exact arity.
+  is not; backend-specific display names (including Particle System names) resolve from that identity,
+  so deleting a middle card cannot transfer its name or settings to the next card. Settings decides
+  whether edits retain spare network capacity or keep exact arity.
 - `src/console/output-mode.ts`, `types.ts`, `model.ts` are the shared vocabulary — read these first
   when touching anything cross-cutting:
   - `types.ts`: `Focus`, `OutputMode`, `DrawerKey`, `DrawerDepth`, `FeedbackModeUI`, `SoloMode`,
diff --git a/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx b/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
index 9bc987e..31b222e 100644
--- a/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
+++ b/manifold/src/console/Drawers.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import type { ConsoleCtx, DrawerDepth, DrawerKey, FeedbackModeUI, SoloMode } fro
 import type { InputMode } from '../inputs';
 import { OutputControlRow } from '../dock/OutputControlRow';
 import { OutputsBackendConfig, BackendStatusChip } from '../dock/OutputsBackendConfig';
-import { shapeValues } from './model';
+import { shapeValues, type MFParam } from './model';
 import { outputModeDescriptor } from './output-mode';
 import { useSettings, unfocusedIconCss } from '../settings/settings-store';
 import type { UnfocusedIconColour, InputMapMode } from '../settings/settings-store';
@@ -734,9 +734,16 @@ function RoutingDrawer(ctx: ConsoleCtx, depth: DrawerDepth) {
   }, {});
   const mutedN = activeParams.filter((p) => p.muted).length;
   const modeDesc = outputModeDescriptor(ctx.outputMode);
-  // The particle Mode names its outputs; otherwise use the param names.
-  const nameFor = (idx: number, fallback: string) =>
-    ctx.outputMode === 'particles' ? VISUAL_NAMES[idx] ?? fallback : fallback;
+  // Particle labels belong to semantic cards, not their current array slots.
+  // A deletion compacts the active prefix, so deriving the label from `idx`
+  // would make the deleted name reappear on its successor.
+  const particleNamesById = new Map(
+    ctx.mode.params.map((param, index) => [param.id, VISUAL_NAMES[index] ?? param.name]),
+  );
+  const nameFor = (param: MFParam) =>
+    ctx.outputMode === 'particles'
+      ? particleNamesById.get(param.id) ?? param.name
+      : param.name;
 
   const expanded = depth === 'expanded';
   const rows = expanded ? activeParams : activeParams.slice(0, 6);
@@ -771,7 +778,7 @@ function RoutingDrawer(ctx: ConsoleCtx, depth: DrawerDepth) {
       >
         {rows.map((p) => {
           const i = ctx.params.indexOf(p);
-          const labelled = { ...p, name: nameFor(i, p.name) };
+          const labelled = { ...p, name: nameFor(p) };
           return (
             <OutputControlRow
               key={p.id}
diff --git a/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts b/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
index 8de0892..955e88d 100644
--- a/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
+++ b/manifold/tests/e2e/output-display-count.spec.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@ test('output cards add/delete in both drawer depths and capacity mode avoids rec
   await expect(page.getByTestId('output-stage')).toHaveAttribute('data-output-count', String(fullCount));
 });
 
+test('deleting a named particle card removes that identity instead of shifting its name', async ({ page }) => {
+  await loadProbe(page);
+
+  await page.getByTitle('Outputs').click();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete Scale output' })).toBeVisible();
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete Scale output' }).click();
+
+  await expect(page.getByText('32 outputs', { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete Scale output' })).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete Speed output' })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Delete Hue output' })).toBeVisible();
+});
+
 test('exact I/O persists and adapts examples across a deleted output identity', async ({ page }) => {
   await loadProbe(page);