diff --git a/src/client/client.cpp b/src/client/client.cpp
index 8d204931cbf12..0c9b9bdd603db 100644
--- a/src/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client/client.cpp
@@ -1579,7 +1579,7 @@ Inventory* Client::getInventory(const InventoryLocation &loc)
 	{
 		// Check if we are working with local player inventory
 		LocalPlayer *player = m_env.getLocalPlayer();
-		if (!player || strcmp(player->getName(), loc.name.c_str()) != 0)
+		if (!player || player->getName() != loc.name)
 			return NULL;
 		return &player->inventory;
 	}
diff --git a/src/client/content_cao.cpp b/src/client/content_cao.cpp
index d3d2285dd0ddf..5310cc64451c5 100644
--- a/src/client/content_cao.cpp
+++ b/src/client/content_cao.cpp
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ void GenericCAO::processInitData(const std::string &data)
 	if (m_is_player) {
 		// Check if it's the current player
 		LocalPlayer *player = m_env->getLocalPlayer();
-		if (player && strcmp(player->getName(), m_name.c_str()) == 0) {
+		if (player && player->getName() == m_name) {
 			m_is_local_player = true;
 			m_is_visible = false;
 			player->setCAO(this);
diff --git a/src/client/localplayer.cpp b/src/client/localplayer.cpp
index 6e5458c8a52d9..5c2407e87b1bf 100644
--- a/src/client/localplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/client/localplayer.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 #include "localplayer.h"
 #include <cmath>
+#include <string>
 #include "mtevent.h"
 #include "collision.h"
 #include "nodedef.h"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 	LocalPlayer
 */
 
-LocalPlayer::LocalPlayer(Client *client, const char *name):
+LocalPlayer::LocalPlayer(Client *client, const std::string name):
 	Player(name, client->idef()),
 	m_client(client)
 {
diff --git a/src/client/localplayer.h b/src/client/localplayer.h
index f33aab4b31933..d6e2d8d6d6c74 100644
--- a/src/client/localplayer.h
+++ b/src/client/localplayer.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "lighting.h"
 #include <list>
+#include <string>
 
 class Client;
 class Environment;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ enum class LocalPlayerAnimation
 class LocalPlayer : public Player
 {
 public:
-	LocalPlayer(Client *client, const char *name);
+	LocalPlayer(Client *client, const std::string name);
 	virtual ~LocalPlayer() = default;
 
 	// Initialize hp to 0, so that no hearts will be shown if server
diff --git a/src/database/database-files.cpp b/src/database/database-files.cpp
index 4357b5ea494bd..337e85893ee4e 100644
--- a/src/database/database-files.cpp
+++ b/src/database/database-files.cpp
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ void PlayerDatabaseFiles::deSerialize(RemotePlayer *p, std::istream &is,
 
 	p->m_dirty = true;
 	//args.getS32("version"); // Version field value not used
-	const std::string &name = args.get("name");
-	strlcpy(p->m_name, name.c_str(), PLAYERNAME_SIZE);
+	p->m_name = args.get("name");
 
 	if (sao) {
 		try {
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ void PlayerDatabaseFiles::deSerialize(RemotePlayer *p, std::istream &is,
 		p->inventory.deSerialize(is);
 	} catch (SerializationError &e) {
 		errorstream << "Failed to deserialize player inventory. player_name="
-			<< name << " " << e.what() << std::endl;
+			<< p->getName() << " " << e.what() << std::endl;
 	}
 
 	if (!p->inventory.getList("craftpreview") && p->inventory.getList("craftresult")) {
@@ -118,7 +117,7 @@ void PlayerDatabaseFiles::serialize(RemotePlayer *p, std::ostream &os)
 	// Utilize a Settings object for storing values
 	Settings args("PlayerArgsEnd");
 	args.setS32("version", 1);
-	args.set("name", p->m_name);
+	args.set("name", p->getName());
 
 	PlayerSAO *sao = p->getPlayerSAO();
 	// This should not happen
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ void PlayerDatabaseFiles::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 
 		deSerialize(&testplayer, is, path, NULL);
 		is.close();
-		if (strcmp(testplayer.getName(), player->getName()) == 0) {
+		if (testplayer.getName() == player->getName()) {
 			path_found = true;
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/src/database/database-postgresql.cpp b/src/database/database-postgresql.cpp
index 7b6ecc9344fe9..a50f270d0dc04 100644
--- a/src/database/database-postgresql.cpp
+++ b/src/database/database-postgresql.cpp
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ void PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 	std::string hp = itos(sao->getHP());
 	std::string breath = itos(sao->getBreath());
 	const char *values[] = {
-		player->getName(),
+		player->getName().c_str(),
 		pitch.c_str(),
 		yaw.c_str(),
 		posx.c_str(), posy.c_str(), posz.c_str(),
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ void PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 		breath.c_str()
 	};
 
-	const char* rmvalues[] = { player->getName() };
+	const char* rmvalues[] = { player->getName().c_str() };
 	beginSave();
 
 	if (getPGVersion() < 90500) {
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ void PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 			inv_id = itos(i), lsize = itos(list->getSize());
 
 		const char* inv_values[] = {
-			player->getName(),
+			player->getName().c_str(),
 			inv_id.c_str(),
 			width.c_str(),
 			name.c_str(),
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ void PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 			std::string itemStr = oss.str(), slotId = itos(j);
 
 			const char* invitem_values[] = {
-				player->getName(),
+				player->getName().c_str(),
 				inv_id.c_str(),
 				slotId.c_str(),
 				itemStr.c_str()
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ void PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::savePlayer(RemotePlayer *player)
 	const StringMap &attrs = sao->getMeta().getStrings();
 	for (const auto &attr : attrs) {
 		const char *meta_values[] = {
-			player->getName(),
+			player->getName().c_str(),
 			attr.first.c_str(),
 			attr.second.c_str()
 		};
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ bool PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::loadPlayer(RemotePlayer *player, PlayerSAO *sao)
 	sanity_check(sao);
 	verifyDatabase();
 
-	const char *values[] = { player->getName() };
+	const char *values[] = { player->getName().c_str() };
 	PGresult *results = execPrepared("load_player", 1, values, false, false);
 
 	// Player not found, return not found
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ bool PlayerDatabasePostgreSQL::loadPlayer(RemotePlayer *player, PlayerSAO *sao)
 		std::string invIdStr = itos(invId);
 
 		const char* values2[] = {
-			player->getName(),
+			player->getName().c_str(),
 			invIdStr.c_str()
 		};
 		PGresult *results2 = execPrepared("load_player_inventory_items", 2,
diff --git a/src/database/database-sqlite3.h b/src/database/database-sqlite3.h
index a400537ff7df8..6efe1971df674 100644
--- a/src/database/database-sqlite3.h
+++ b/src/database/database-sqlite3.h
@@ -49,11 +49,6 @@ class Database_SQLite3 : public Database
 		sqlite3_vrfy(sqlite3_bind_text(s, iCol, str.c_str(), str.size(), NULL));
 	}
 
-	inline void str_to_sqlite(sqlite3_stmt *s, int iCol, const char *str) const
-	{
-		sqlite3_vrfy(sqlite3_bind_text(s, iCol, str, strlen(str), NULL));
-	}
-
 	inline void int_to_sqlite(sqlite3_stmt *s, int iCol, int val) const
 	{
 		sqlite3_vrfy(sqlite3_bind_int(s, iCol, val));
diff --git a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
index 92ff4d031caaf..985e8b2ea0629 100644
--- a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
+++ b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ void Server::handleCommand_InventoryAction(NetworkPacket* pkt)
 
 	// If something goes wrong, this player is to blame
 	RollbackScopeActor rollback_scope(m_rollback,
-			std::string("player:")+player->getName());
+			"player:" + player->getName());
 
 	/*
 		Note: Always set inventory not sent, to repair cases
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ void Server::handleCommand_Interact(NetworkPacket *pkt)
 		If something goes wrong, this player is to blame
 	*/
 	RollbackScopeActor rollback_scope(m_rollback,
-			std::string("player:")+player->getName());
+			"player:" + player->getName());
 
 	switch (action) {
 	// Start digging or punch object
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ void Server::handleCommand_NodeMetaFields(NetworkPacket* pkt)
 
 	// If something goes wrong, this player is to blame
 	RollbackScopeActor rollback_scope(m_rollback,
-			std::string("player:")+player->getName());
+			"player:" + player->getName());
 
 	// Check the target node for rollback data; leave others unnoticed
 	RollbackNode rn_old(&m_env->getMap(), p, this);
diff --git a/src/player.cpp b/src/player.cpp
index 8742454d2962d..201639afbf442 100644
--- a/src/player.cpp
+++ b/src/player.cpp
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "porting.h"  // strlcpy
 
 
-Player::Player(const char *name, IItemDefManager *idef):
+Player::Player(const std::string name, IItemDefManager *idef):
 	inventory(idef)
 {
-	strlcpy(m_name, name, PLAYERNAME_SIZE);
+	m_name = name;
 
 	inventory.clear();
 	inventory.addList("main", PLAYER_INVENTORY_SIZE);
diff --git a/src/player.h b/src/player.h
index af1d73f4a7491..9ff99c91e5f6a 100644
--- a/src/player.h
+++ b/src/player.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "util/basic_macros.h"
 #include <list>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <string>
 
 #define PLAYERNAME_SIZE 20
 
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ class Player
 {
 public:
 
-	Player(const char *name, IItemDefManager *idef);
+	Player(const std::string name, IItemDefManager *idef);
 	virtual ~Player() = 0;
 
 	DISABLE_CLASS_COPY(Player);
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ class Player
 		m_speed = speed;
 	}
 
-	const char *getName() const { return m_name; }
+	const std::string& getName() const { return m_name; }
 
 	u32 getFreeHudID()
 	{
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ class Player
 	s32 hud_hotbar_itemcount;
 
 protected:
-	char m_name[PLAYERNAME_SIZE];
+	std::string m_name;
 	v3f m_speed; // velocity; in BS-space
 	u16 m_wield_index = 0;
 	PlayerFovSpec m_fov_override_spec = { 0.0f, false, 0.0f };
diff --git a/src/remoteplayer.cpp b/src/remoteplayer.cpp
index 20be7a8c81f39..79d58ee7f8132 100644
--- a/src/remoteplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/remoteplayer.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ bool RemotePlayer::m_setting_cache_loaded = false;
 float RemotePlayer::m_setting_chat_message_limit_per_10sec = 0.0f;
 u16 RemotePlayer::m_setting_chat_message_limit_trigger_kick = 0;
 
-RemotePlayer::RemotePlayer(const char *name, IItemDefManager *idef):
+RemotePlayer::RemotePlayer(const std::string name, IItemDefManager *idef):
 	Player(name, idef)
 {
 	if (!RemotePlayer::m_setting_cache_loaded) {
diff --git a/src/remoteplayer.h b/src/remoteplayer.h
index 0ab33adfe18e3..db87b0fe5a16f 100644
--- a/src/remoteplayer.h
+++ b/src/remoteplayer.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class RemotePlayer : public Player
 	friend class PlayerDatabaseFiles;
 
 public:
-	RemotePlayer(const char *name, IItemDefManager *idef);
+	RemotePlayer(const std::string name, IItemDefManager *idef);
 	virtual ~RemotePlayer() = default;
 
 	PlayerSAO *getPlayerSAO() { return m_sao; }
diff --git a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
index c255b0c71cfb6..d8282998d166a 100644
--- a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
+++ b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void ScriptApiServer::freeDynamicMediaCallback(u32 token)
 	lua_pop(L, 2);
 }
 
-void ScriptApiServer::on_dynamic_media_added(u32 token, const char *playername)
+void ScriptApiServer::on_dynamic_media_added(u32 token, const std::string &playername)
 {
 	SCRIPTAPI_PRECHECKHEADER
 
@@ -257,6 +257,6 @@ void ScriptApiServer::on_dynamic_media_added(u32 token, const char *playername)
 	lua_rawgeti(L, -1, token);
 	luaL_checktype(L, -1, LUA_TFUNCTION);
 
-	lua_pushstring(L, playername);
+	lua_pushstring(L, playername.c_str());
 	PCALL_RES(lua_pcall(L, 1, 0, error_handler));
 }
diff --git a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
index 58c8c0e481cec..bb1289dd97af7 100644
--- a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
+++ b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class ScriptApiServer
 	/* dynamic media handling */
 	static u32 allocateDynamicMediaCallback(lua_State *L, int f_idx);
 	void freeDynamicMediaCallback(u32 token);
-	void on_dynamic_media_added(u32 token, const char *playername);
+	void on_dynamic_media_added(u32 token, const std::string &playername);
 
 private:
 	void getAuthHandler();
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_localplayer.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_localplayer.cpp
index 42ca2e0c213f9..92689475420dc 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_localplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_localplayer.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ int LuaLocalPlayer::l_get_name(lua_State *L)
 {
 	LocalPlayer *player = getobject(L, 1);
 
-	lua_pushstring(L, player->getName());
+	lua_pushstring(L, player->getName().c_str());
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
index c9dae18855949..be091a6e0ef81 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ int ObjectRef::l_get_player_name(lua_State *L)
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	lua_pushstring(L, player->getName());
+	lua_pushstring(L, player->getName().c_str());
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index 1949de2889b75..577318703cf88 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ PlayerSAO* Server::StageTwoClientInit(session_t peer_id)
 	*/
 	{
 		NetworkPacket notice_pkt(TOCLIENT_UPDATE_PLAYER_LIST, 0, PEER_ID_INEXISTENT);
-		notice_pkt << (u8) PLAYER_LIST_ADD << (u16) 1 << std::string(player->getName());
+		notice_pkt << (u8) PLAYER_LIST_ADD << (u16) 1 << player->getName();
 		m_clients.sendToAll(&notice_pkt);
 	}
 	{
@@ -3196,7 +3196,7 @@ std::string Server::getStatusString()
 			RemotePlayer *player = m_env->getPlayer(client_id);
 
 			// Get name of player
-			const char *name = player ? player->getName() : "<unknown>";
+			const std::string name = player ? player->getName() : "<unknown>";
 
 			// Add name to information string
 			if (!first)
diff --git a/src/serverenvironment.cpp b/src/serverenvironment.cpp
index 986ef72d919f7..a715ec8015910 100644
--- a/src/serverenvironment.cpp
+++ b/src/serverenvironment.cpp
@@ -554,10 +554,10 @@ RemotePlayer *ServerEnvironment::getPlayer(const session_t peer_id)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-RemotePlayer *ServerEnvironment::getPlayer(const char* name)
+RemotePlayer *ServerEnvironment::getPlayer(const std::string &name)
 {
 	for (RemotePlayer *player : m_players) {
-		if (strcmp(player->getName(), name) == 0)
+		if (player->getName() == name)
 			return player;
 	}
 	return NULL;
diff --git a/src/serverenvironment.h b/src/serverenvironment.h
index 215fd37ee16e1..0d4977af9e748 100644
--- a/src/serverenvironment.h
+++ b/src/serverenvironment.h
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ class ServerEnvironment final : public Environment
 		bool static_exists, v3s16 static_block=v3s16(0,0,0));
 
 	RemotePlayer *getPlayer(const session_t peer_id);
-	RemotePlayer *getPlayer(const char* name);
+	RemotePlayer *getPlayer(const std::string &name);
 	const std::vector<RemotePlayer *> getPlayers() const { return m_players; }
 	u32 getPlayerCount() const { return m_players.size(); }