diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIConstants.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIConstants.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..30f9a894
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/ChatUIConstants.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+package com.bitchat.android.ui
+
+/**
+ * UI constants/utilities for nickname rendering.
+ */
+const val MAX_NICKNAME_LENGTH: Int = 15
+
+fun truncateNickname(name: String, maxLen: Int = MAX_NICKNAME_LENGTH): String {
+    return if (name.length <= maxLen) name else name.take(maxLen)
+}
+
+