diff --git a/src/scicloj/plotje/impl/defaults.clj b/src/scicloj/plotje/impl/defaults.clj
index 00232a6b..f5519d45 100644
--- a/src/scicloj/plotje/impl/defaults.clj
+++ b/src/scicloj/plotje/impl/defaults.clj
@@ -291,7 +291,9 @@
 (defn fmt-name
   "Format a keyword as a readable name: :sepal-length -> \"sepal length\"."
   [k]
-  (str/replace (name k) #"[-_]" " "))
+  (if (instance? clojure.lang.Named k)
+    (str/replace (name k) #"[-_]" " ")
+    (str k)))
 
 (defn fmt-category-label
   "Format a category value (keyword, string, number, etc.) for display.
@@ -299,10 +301,7 @@
    Used for axis tick labels, legend entries, facet strip labels, and any
    other user-visible category text."
   [v]
-  (cond
-    (nil? v) ""
-    (keyword? v) (name v)
-    :else (str v)))
+  (fmt-name v))
 
 (defn group-digits
   "Insert `separator` between three-digit groups in the integer part of an