diff --git a/static/app.js b/static/app.js
index 6d11106b4..262ecdb19 100644
--- a/static/app.js
+++ b/static/app.js
@@ -87,6 +87,37 @@ function initForegroundActivityHeartbeat() {
 }
 initForegroundActivityHeartbeat();
 
+function initRailHoverLabels() {
+  const labels = {
+    'rail-search-btn': 'Search',
+    'rail-new-session': 'New',
+    'rail-delete-session': 'Delete',
+    'rail-chats': 'Chat',
+    'rail-documents': 'Docs',
+    'rail-calendar': 'Calendar',
+    'rail-compare': 'Compare',
+    'rail-cookbook': 'Cookbook',
+    'rail-research': 'Research',
+    'rail-email': 'Email',
+    'rail-gallery': 'Gallery',
+    'rail-archive': 'Library',
+    'rail-memory': 'Brain',
+    'rail-notes': 'Notes',
+    'rail-tasks': 'Tasks',
+    'rail-theme': 'Theme',
+    'rail-settings': 'Settings',
+  };
+  document.querySelectorAll('#icon-rail .icon-rail-btn').forEach(btn => {
+    if (btn.querySelector('.rail-hover-label')) return;
+    const label = labels[btn.id] || btn.getAttribute('aria-label') || btn.getAttribute('title') || '';
+    if (!label) return;
+    const span = document.createElement('span');
+    span.className = 'rail-hover-label';
+    span.textContent = String(label).replace(/\s*\([^)]*\)\s*/g, '').trim();
+    btn.appendChild(span);
+  });
+}
+
 // Redirect to login on 401 from any fetch
 const _origFetch = window.fetch;
 window.fetch = async function(...args) {
@@ -3420,6 +3451,7 @@ function startOdysseusApp() {
   window.__odysseusAppStarted = true;
   // Set CSS variables
   document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--line-height', '20px');
+  initRailHoverLabels();
 
   // Smooth keyboard open/close on mobile — keep chat scrolled to bottom
   if (window.visualViewport && 'ontouchstart' in window) {
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index b81e692e4..2f27131c5 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -1120,11 +1120,9 @@ body.bg-pattern-sparkles {
     }
     .rail-new-chat svg { transition: transform 0.35s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1); }
     .rail-new-chat:hover svg { transform: rotate(90deg); }
-    /* A "New" label slides out from the right of the + as it spins, so users
-       discover what the icon does without needing the tooltip. */
-    .rail-new-chat { position: relative; }
-    .rail-new-chat::after {
-      content: 'New';
+    /* Sleek hover labels for the mini sidebar. Use a real child span instead
+       of ::before/::after so status dots and minimized indicators keep working. */
+    .rail-hover-label {
       position: absolute;
       left: 100%;
       top: 50%;
@@ -1143,7 +1141,7 @@ body.bg-pattern-sparkles {
       z-index: 20;
       transition: opacity 0.25s ease, transform 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
     }
-    .rail-new-chat:hover::after {
+    .icon-rail-btn:hover .rail-hover-label {
       opacity: 1;
       transform: translateY(-50%) translateX(0);
     }