diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.test.ts b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.test.ts
index d56c7a69..3a8c9da5 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   getProjectSortTimestamp,
   hasUnseenCompletion,
   resolveProjectStatusIndicator,
+  resolveProjectNameTone,
   resolveSidebarNewThreadEnvMode,
   resolveThreadRowClassName,
   resolveThreadStatusPill,
@@ -315,6 +316,22 @@ describe("resolveThreadRowClassName", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("resolveProjectNameTone", () => {
+  it("keeps the selected project name on its assigned project color", () => {
+    expect(resolveProjectNameTone({ isSelectedProject: true, visualIndex: 3 })).toBe("project");
+  });
+
+  it("starts inactive project names on the stronger muted grey", () => {
+    expect(resolveProjectNameTone({ isSelectedProject: false, visualIndex: 0 })).toBe(
+      "mutedStrong",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("alternates inactive project names to a softer muted grey on the next row", () => {
+    expect(resolveProjectNameTone({ isSelectedProject: false, visualIndex: 1 })).toBe("mutedSoft");
+  });
+});
+
 describe("resolveProjectStatusIndicator", () => {
   it("returns null when no threads have a notable status", () => {
     expect(resolveProjectStatusIndicator([null, null])).toBeNull();
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.ts b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.ts
index 2377c3db..0711cb97 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.logic.ts
@@ -113,6 +113,17 @@ export function resolveThreadRowClassName(input: {
   return cn(baseClassName, "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground");
 }
 
+export function resolveProjectNameTone(input: {
+  isSelectedProject: boolean;
+  visualIndex: number;
+}): "project" | "mutedStrong" | "mutedSoft" {
+  if (input.isSelectedProject) {
+    return "project";
+  }
+
+  return input.visualIndex % 2 === 0 ? "mutedStrong" : "mutedSoft";
+}
+
 export function resolveThreadStatusPill(input: {
   thread: ThreadStatusInput;
   hasPendingApprovals: boolean;
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index 22675e23..85af274f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ import { OkCodeMark } from "./OkCodeMark";
 import {
   getVisibleThreadsForProject,
   isActionableThreadStatus,
+  resolveProjectNameTone,
   resolveSidebarNewThreadEnvMode,
   resolveThreadStatusPill,
   shouldClearThreadSelectionOnMouseDown,
@@ -556,6 +557,7 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
     () => new Map(threads.map((thread) => [thread.id, thread] as const)),
     [threads],
   );
+  const activeProjectId = routeThreadId ? (threadById.get(routeThreadId)?.projectId ?? null) : null;
   const sortedThreadsByProjectId = useMemo(
     () => sortThreadsByProjectIdForSidebar(threads, appSettings.sidebarThreadSortOrder),
     [appSettings.sidebarThreadSortOrder, threads],
@@ -1258,6 +1260,7 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
   function renderProjectItem(
     project: (typeof sortedProjects)[number],
     dragHandleProps: SortableProjectHandleProps | null,
+    visualIndex: number,
   ) {
     const projectThreads = sortedThreadsByProjectId.get(project.id) ?? EMPTY_THREADS;
     const activeThreadId = routeThreadId ?? undefined;
@@ -1277,6 +1280,10 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
     const renderedThreads = pinnedCollapsedThread ? [pinnedCollapsedThread] : visibleThreads;
     const pColor = getProjectColor(project.id);
     const isDark = resolvedTheme === "dark";
+    const projectNameTone = resolveProjectNameTone({
+      isSelectedProject: activeProjectId === project.id,
+      visualIndex,
+    });
 
     return (
       <Collapsible className="group/collapsible" open={shouldShowThreadPanel}>
@@ -1326,8 +1333,16 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
             ) : (
               <span className="min-w-0 flex-1">
                 <span
-                  className="block truncate text-xs font-semibold"
-                  style={{ color: isDark ? pColor.textDark : pColor.text }}
+                  className={cn(
+                    "block truncate text-xs font-semibold",
+                    projectNameTone === "mutedStrong" && "text-muted-foreground/72",
+                    projectNameTone === "mutedSoft" && "text-muted-foreground/48",
+                  )}
+                  style={
+                    projectNameTone === "project"
+                      ? { color: isDark ? pColor.textDark : pColor.text }
+                      : undefined
+                  }
                   onDoubleClick={(e) => {
                     e.stopPropagation();
                     startProjectEditing({
@@ -2020,9 +2035,9 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
                   items={sortedProjects.map((project) => project.id)}
                   strategy={verticalListSortingStrategy}
                 >
-                  {sortedProjects.map((project) => (
+                  {sortedProjects.map((project, index) => (
                     <SortableProjectItem key={project.id} projectId={project.id}>
-                      {(dragHandleProps) => renderProjectItem(project, dragHandleProps)}
+                      {(dragHandleProps) => renderProjectItem(project, dragHandleProps, index)}
                     </SortableProjectItem>
                   ))}
                 </SortableContext>
@@ -2030,9 +2045,9 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
             </DndContext>
           ) : (
             <SidebarMenu className="gap-0.5">
-              {sortedProjects.map((project) => (
+              {sortedProjects.map((project, index) => (
                 <SidebarMenuItem key={project.id} className="rounded-md">
-                  {renderProjectItem(project, null)}
+                  {renderProjectItem(project, null, index)}
                 </SidebarMenuItem>
               ))}
             </SidebarMenu>