diff --git a/common/src/character.rs b/common/src/character.rs
index 54284345b8..112c4e5a81 100644
--- a/common/src/character.rs
+++ b/common/src/character.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 pub const MAX_CHARACTERS_PER_PLAYER: usize = 8;
 pub type CharacterId = i64;
 
+pub const MAX_NAME_LENGTH: usize = 20;
+
 /// The minimum character data we need to create a new character on the server.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Character {
diff --git a/server/src/alias_validator.rs b/server/src/alias_validator.rs
index d6e02f09c9..7eb27ea3f3 100644
--- a/server/src/alias_validator.rs
+++ b/server/src/alias_validator.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use common::character::MAX_NAME_LENGTH;
 use std::fmt::{self, Display};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
@@ -16,6 +17,10 @@ impl AliasValidator {
     }
 
     pub fn validate(&self, alias: &str) -> Result<(), ValidatorError> {
+        if alias.len() > MAX_NAME_LENGTH {
+            return Err(ValidatorError::TooLong(alias.to_owned(), alias.len()));
+        }
+
         let lowercase_alias = alias.to_lowercase();
 
         for banned_word in self.banned_substrings.iter() {
@@ -33,6 +38,7 @@ impl AliasValidator {
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum ValidatorError {
     Forbidden(String, String),
+    TooLong(String, usize),
 }
 
 impl Display for ValidatorError {
@@ -43,6 +49,7 @@ impl Display for ValidatorError {
                 "Character name \"{}\" contains a banned word",
                 name
             ),
+            Self::TooLong(name, _) => write!(formatter, "Character name \"{}\" too long", name),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -56,7 +63,7 @@ mod tests {
         let banned_substrings = vec!["bad".to_owned(), "worse".to_owned()];
         let validator = AliasValidator::new(banned_substrings);
 
-        let bad_alias = "Badplayery Mc WorsePlayeryFace";
+        let bad_alias = "BadplayerMcWorseFace";
         let result = validator.validate(bad_alias);
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -112,4 +119,21 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert_eq!(result, Ok(()));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn too_long() {
+        let banned_substrings = vec!["orange".to_owned()];
+        let validator = AliasValidator::new(banned_substrings);
+
+        let bad_alias = "Thisnameistoolong Muchtoolong MuchTooLongByFar";
+        let result = validator.validate(bad_alias);
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            result,
+            Err(ValidatorError::TooLong(
+                bad_alias.to_owned(),
+                bad_alias.chars().count()
+            ))
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/voxygen/src/menu/char_selection/ui/mod.rs b/voxygen/src/menu/char_selection/ui/mod.rs
index 14eedb67ea..8fbf62aa1e 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/menu/char_selection/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/menu/char_selection/ui/mod.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use crate::{
 use client::Client;
 use common::{
     assets::AssetHandle,
-    character::{CharacterId, CharacterItem, MAX_CHARACTERS_PER_PLAYER},
+    character::{CharacterId, CharacterItem, MAX_CHARACTERS_PER_PLAYER, MAX_NAME_LENGTH},
     comp::{self, humanoid, inventory::slot::EquipSlot, Inventory, Item},
     LoadoutBuilder,
 };
@@ -1238,7 +1238,7 @@ impl Controls {
             },
             Message::Name(value) => {
                 if let Mode::Create { name, .. } = &mut self.mode {
-                    *name = value;
+                    *name = value.chars().take(MAX_NAME_LENGTH).collect();
                 }
             },
             Message::BodyType(value) => {