diff --git a/.changeset/show-json-names.md b/.changeset/show-json-names.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d883094c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/show-json-names.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@fission-ai/openspec": patch
+---
+
+`show --json` now includes each requirement's and scenario's `name`, matching the header names archive uses, so JSON readers can cite a requirement without parsing the markdown again (#1971).
diff --git a/docs-lab/reference/cli.md b/docs-lab/reference/cli.md
index f02c81ef..b27c0e75 100644
--- a/docs-lab/reference/cli.md
+++ b/docs-lab/reference/cli.md
@@ -541,9 +541,11 @@ A change with `--json` is delta-shaped:
       "operation": "ADDED",
       "description": "Add requirement: The API SHALL limit each client to 100 requests per minute.",
       "requirement": {
+        "name": "Rate limit",
         "text": "The API SHALL limit each client to 100 requests per minute.",
         "scenarios": [
           {
+            "name": "Client exceeds the limit",
             "rawText": "- **WHEN** a client sends its 101st request within a minute\n- **THEN** the API responds 429"
           }
         ]
@@ -558,9 +560,11 @@ A change with `--json` is delta-shaped:
 }
 ```
 
+Each requirement carries its `name`, the header text after `Requirement:`. This is the name archive matches MODIFIED, REMOVED and RENAMED entries against. Each scenario carries its `name`, the header text after `Scenario:`. A closing `#` run on either header is not part of the name.
+
 `--json --diff` keeps this top-level shape. A MODIFIED delta gains a `diff` string, a `warning` string, or both. Other operations are unchanged. An empty `diff` string means the main and delta blocks are textually identical.
 
-A spec with `--json` lists its requirements with scenarios:
+A spec with `--json` lists its requirements with scenarios. Requirements and scenarios carry the same `name` fields as change JSON:
 
 ```json
 {
@@ -570,9 +574,11 @@ A spec with `--json` lists its requirements with scenarios:
   "requirementCount": 1,
   "requirements": [
     {
+      "name": "Health endpoint",
       "text": "The API SHALL expose a health endpoint.",
       "scenarios": [
         {
+          "name": "Health check succeeds",
           "rawText": "- **WHEN** a client requests GET /health\n- **THEN** the API responds 200"
         }
       ]
diff --git a/docs/agent-contract.md b/docs/agent-contract.md
index efd08f59..c7334b75 100644
--- a/docs/agent-contract.md
+++ b/docs/agent-contract.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ deliberately remains the compatibility bare array documented in §4.13:
 `warnings` (omitted when empty) reports directories under `changes/` that are not changes. Today the only code is `nested_change_directory`: a namespace folder wrapping change directories, which OpenSpec cannot address because a change is always a directory directly under `changes/`. The same entry carries `nested` on the listed change, whose `status` is then meaningless. Do not treat such an entry as a change; report the message and leave the directories alone.
 
 ### 4.2 `show <item> --json`
-Change: `{ "id", "title", "deltaCount", "deltas": [...], "root" }`. Spec: `{ "id", "title", "overview", "requirementCount", "requirements": [...], "metadata": { "version", "format", "sourcePath"? }, "root" }`.
+Change: `{ "id", "title", "deltaCount", "deltas": [...], "root" }`. Spec: `{ "id", "title", "overview", "requirementCount", "requirements": [...], "metadata": { "version", "format", "sourcePath"? }, "root" }`. A requirement, in a spec or in a change delta's `requirement`/`requirements`, is `{ "name", "text", "scenarios": [ { "name", "rawText" } ] }`. A requirement `name` is its header without `Requirement:` and without a closing `#` run, the exact name archive matches MODIFIED/REMOVED/RENAMED entries against. A scenario `name` is its level-4 header without `Scenario:` and without a closing `#` run, the name the MODIFIED scenario-loss check compares.
 
 ### 4.3 `validate --json`
 `{ "items": [ { "id", "type": "change"|"spec", "valid", "issues": [ { "level", "path", "message", "line"?, "column"? } ], "durationMs" } ], "summary": { "totals": {items,passed,failed}, "byType": {...} }, "version": "1.0", "root" }`. Exit 1 when any item fails.
diff --git a/src/commands/spec.ts b/src/commands/spec.ts
index e459342d..38d45da4 100644
--- a/src/commands/spec.ts
+++ b/src/commands/spec.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ function filterSpec(spec: Spec, options: ShowOptions): Spec {
     ? [spec.requirements[requirementIndex]]
     : spec.requirements
   ).map(req => ({
+    name: req.name,
     text: req.text,
     scenarios: includeScenarios ? req.scenarios : [],
   }));
diff --git a/src/core/parsers/markdown-parser.ts b/src/core/parsers/markdown-parser.ts
index 4d90e965..bcb605de 100644
--- a/src/core/parsers/markdown-parser.ts
+++ b/src/core/parsers/markdown-parser.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Spec, Change, Requirement, Scenario, Delta, DeltaOperation } from '../schemas/index.js';
 import { buildCodeFenceMask, extractRequirementText, hasScenarioBody } from './requirement-text.js';
+import { normalizeRequirementName, scenarioNameFromHeaderText } from './requirement-blocks.js';
 
 export interface Section {
   level: number;
@@ -160,6 +161,9 @@ export class MarkdownParser {
       const scenarios = this.parseScenarios(child);
 
       requirements.push({
+        // The name archive matches on, so a JSON reader can cite a requirement
+        // the way a MODIFIED or REMOVED header must.
+        name: normalizeRequirementName(child.title.replace(/^Requirement:\s*/i, '')),
         text,
         scenarios,
       });
@@ -176,6 +180,7 @@ export class MarkdownParser {
       // body is not a scenario; the delta counter applies the same rule.
       if (hasScenarioBody(scenarioSection.content)) {
         scenarios.push({
+          name: scenarioNameFromHeaderText(scenarioSection.title),
           rawText: scenarioSection.content
         });
       }
diff --git a/src/core/parsers/requirement-blocks.ts b/src/core/parsers/requirement-blocks.ts
index d8ddfc39..7684d266 100644
--- a/src/core/parsers/requirement-blocks.ts
+++ b/src/core/parsers/requirement-blocks.ts
@@ -630,8 +630,16 @@ function scenarioHeaderAt(lines: string[], mask: boolean[], index: number): bool
  * ATX-closed, one not) are not mistaken for a dropped scenario.
  */
 function scenarioNameAt(line: string): string {
-  return line
-    .replace(SCENARIO_HEADER, '')
+  return scenarioNameFromHeaderText(line.replace(SCENARIO_HEADER, ''));
+}
+
+/**
+ * scenarioNameAt for header text whose leading `####` is already gone, as the
+ * section parser (MarkdownParser) holds it, so `show --json` names a scenario
+ * exactly as the MODIFIED loss check does.
+ */
+export function scenarioNameFromHeaderText(headerText: string): string {
+  return headerText
     // Optional ATX closing sequence. CommonMark only treats a trailing `#` run
     // as a close when it is preceded by a space or tab — not any Unicode space —
     // so this uses `[ \t]`, not `\s`. A looser `\s` could strip a `#` run after
diff --git a/src/core/schemas/base.schema.ts b/src/core/schemas/base.schema.ts
index a6472ddb..3d9013a4 100644
--- a/src/core/schemas/base.schema.ts
+++ b/src/core/schemas/base.schema.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,16 @@ import { z } from 'zod';
 import { VALIDATION_MESSAGES } from '../validation/constants.js';
 
 export const ScenarioSchema = z.object({
+  // Header text without `####`, the closing `#` run, and the `Scenario:`
+  // prefix. Optional so objects built outside the parser still validate.
+  name: z.string().optional(),
   rawText: z.string().min(1, VALIDATION_MESSAGES.SCENARIO_EMPTY),
 });
 
 export const RequirementSchema = z.object({
+  // Header text without `###` and the `Requirement:` prefix: the name archive
+  // matches MODIFIED, REMOVED and RENAMED entries against.
+  name: z.string().optional(),
   // SHALL/MUST body-keyword enforcement lives in the imperative validator
   // (Validator.applySpecRules), not here: the parser collapses the requirement
   // header into `text`, so a Zod refine on `text` cannot tell "keyword in header
diff --git a/test/commands/spec.test.ts b/test/commands/spec.test.ts
index 42426da9..675e1bbe 100644
--- a/test/commands/spec.test.ts
+++ b/test/commands/spec.test.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,30 @@ The system SHALL process credit card payments securely`;
       }
     });
 
+    it('names each requirement and scenario in show --json', () => {
+      const originalCwd = process.cwd();
+      try {
+        process.chdir(testDir);
+        const json = JSON.parse(execFileSync('node', [openspecBin, 'show', 'auth', '--type', 'spec', '--json'], {
+          encoding: 'utf-8'
+        }));
+        expect(json.requirements.map((r: any) => r.name)).toEqual(['User Authentication', 'Password Reset']);
+        expect(json.requirements[0].scenarios[0].name).toBe('Successful login');
+
+        const one = JSON.parse(execFileSync('node', [openspecBin, 'show', 'auth', '--type', 'spec', '--json', '-r', '2'], {
+          encoding: 'utf-8'
+        }));
+        expect(one.requirements[0].name).toBe('Password Reset');
+
+        const bare = JSON.parse(execFileSync('node', [openspecBin, 'show', 'auth', '--type', 'spec', '--json', '--no-scenarios'], {
+          encoding: 'utf-8'
+        }));
+        expect(bare.requirements[1].name).toBe('Password Reset');
+      } finally {
+        process.chdir(originalCwd);
+      }
+    });
+
     it('should filter to show only requirements with --requirements flag (JSON only)', () => {
       const originalCwd = process.cwd();
       try {
diff --git a/test/core/parsers/change-parser.test.ts b/test/core/parsers/change-parser.test.ts
index 9a901c00..280f7c11 100644
--- a/test/core/parsers/change-parser.test.ts
+++ b/test/core/parsers/change-parser.test.ts
@@ -138,4 +138,42 @@ describe('ChangeParser', () => {
       expect(change.deltas[0].requirement?.text).toBe('The system SHALL do a thing.');
     });
   });
+
+  it('names each delta requirement and scenario as archive matches them', async () => {
+    await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
+      const specsDir = path.join(dir, 'specs', 'auth');
+      await fs.mkdir(specsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+      const content = `# Test Change\n\n## Why\nWe need it because reasons that are sufficiently long.\n\n## What Changes\n- **auth:** Update login`;
+      const deltaSpec = [
+        '## ADDED Requirements',
+        '',
+        '### Requirement: Session Timeout',
+        'The system SHALL end idle sessions.',
+        '',
+        '#### Scenario: Idle for an hour',
+        '- **WHEN** a session is idle for an hour',
+        '- **THEN** it ends',
+        '',
+        '## MODIFIED Requirements',
+        '',
+        '### Requirement: User Login ##',
+        'The system SHALL log users in with a password.',
+        '',
+        '#### Scenario: Valid credentials',
+        '- **WHEN** a user signs in',
+        '- **THEN** a session starts',
+      ].join('\n');
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(specsDir, 'spec.md'), deltaSpec, 'utf8');
+
+      const change = await new ChangeParser(content, dir).parseChangeWithDeltas('test-change');
+      const byOperation = Object.fromEntries(change.deltas.map((d) => [d.operation, d.requirement]));
+
+      expect(byOperation.ADDED?.name).toBe('Session Timeout');
+      expect(byOperation.ADDED?.scenarios[0].name).toBe('Idle for an hour');
+      // The closing run is not part of the name archive matches on.
+      expect(byOperation.MODIFIED?.name).toBe('User Login');
+      expect(byOperation.MODIFIED?.scenarios[0].name).toBe('Valid credentials');
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/core/parsers/markdown-parser.test.ts b/test/core/parsers/markdown-parser.test.ts
index 849e5114..f2ea8d69 100644
--- a/test/core/parsers/markdown-parser.test.ts
+++ b/test/core/parsers/markdown-parser.test.ts
@@ -556,4 +556,51 @@ Widgets are the one thing this product cannot assemble today.
       expect(titled).toEqual(untitled);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('requirement and scenario names', () => {
+    const spec = (requirements: string) =>
+      `## Purpose\nNames for JSON readers.\n\n## Requirements\n\n${requirements}`;
+
+    it('names a requirement and its scenarios without the header prefixes', () => {
+      const parsed = new MarkdownParser(spec(`### Requirement: User Login
+The system SHALL log users in.
+
+#### Scenario: Valid credentials
+- **WHEN** a user signs in
+- **THEN** a session starts
+
+#### Scenario: Wrong password
+- **WHEN** the password is wrong
+- **THEN** no session starts`)).parseSpec('auth');
+
+      expect(parsed.requirements[0].name).toBe('User Login');
+      expect(parsed.requirements[0].scenarios.map((s) => s.name)).toEqual([
+        'Valid credentials',
+        'Wrong password',
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it('drops a closing # run the way archive does, but keeps a # inside the name', () => {
+      const parsed = new MarkdownParser(spec(`### Requirement: Supports C# ###
+The system SHALL compile C#.
+
+#### Scenario: Builds a C# project ##
+- **WHEN** a project is built
+- **THEN** it compiles`)).parseSpec('lang');
+
+      expect(parsed.requirements[0].name).toBe('Supports C#');
+      expect(parsed.requirements[0].scenarios[0].name).toBe('Builds a C# project');
+    });
+
+    it('names a level-4 header without the Scenario: prefix by its text', () => {
+      const parsed = new MarkdownParser(spec(`### Requirement: Retries
+The system SHALL retry failed calls.
+
+#### Edge case: zero retries
+- **WHEN** retries are set to 0
+- **THEN** the call runs once`)).parseSpec('net');
+
+      expect(parsed.requirements[0].scenarios[0].name).toBe('Edge case: zero retries');
+    });
+  });
 });