diff --git a/app/globals.css b/app/globals.css
index 1914c40..1daa215 100644
--- a/app/globals.css
+++ b/app/globals.css
@@ -9,3 +9,20 @@
 body {
   font-family: var(--font-sans);
 }
+
+@keyframes name-fill-in {
+  from { fill-opacity: 0; }
+  to   { fill-opacity: 1; }
+}
+
+.name-outline-fill {
+  fill: #e4e4e7;           /* zinc-200 */
+  stroke: #d4d4d8;         /* zinc-300 */
+  fill-opacity: 0;
+  animation: name-fill-in 2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) 0.3s forwards;
+}
+
+.dark .name-outline-fill {
+  fill: #27272a;            /* zinc-800 */
+  stroke: #27272a;          /* zinc-800 */
+}
diff --git a/components/Hero.tsx b/components/Hero.tsx
index a7074b8..2246c60 100644
--- a/components/Hero.tsx
+++ b/components/Hero.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,28 @@ import Link from 'next/link'
 
 export default function Hero() {
   return (
-    <section className="mx-auto flex min-h-[72vh] max-w-5xl flex-col items-center justify-center px-6 py-32 text-center">
+    <section className="relative overflow-hidden mx-auto flex min-h-[72vh] max-w-5xl flex-col items-center justify-center px-6 py-32 text-center">
+
+      {/* Background name — outline fills in on load */}
+      <svg
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 h-full w-full"
+        preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet"
+      >
+        <text
+          x="50%"
+          y="55%"
+          textAnchor="middle"
+          dominantBaseline="middle"
+          fontFamily="var(--font-geist-sans), sans-serif"
+          fontSize="22vw"
+          fontWeight="700"
+          strokeWidth="1"
+          className="name-outline-fill"
+        >
+          Jonathan
+        </text>
+      </svg>
 
       {/* Eyebrow label */}
       <div className="mb-10 flex items-center gap-4">