diff --git a/common/database.cpp b/common/database.cpp
index f6adc3659..ac5ae16bf 100644
--- a/common/database.cpp
+++ b/common/database.cpp
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ bool Database::DeleteCharacter(char *character_name) {
 				UPDATE
 				character_data
 				SET
+				name = SUBSTRING(CONCAT(name, '-deleted-', UNIX_TIMESTAMP()), 1, 64),
 				deleted_at = NOW()
 				WHERE
 				id = '{}'
diff --git a/utils/sql/git/optional/2020_01_26_soft_delete_retro.sql b/utils/sql/git/optional/2020_01_26_soft_delete_retro.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3d0c7c4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/sql/git/optional/2020_01_26_soft_delete_retro.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+-- Run this to un-reserve deleted characters
+UPDATE
+  character_data
+SET
+  name = SUBSTRING(
+    CONCAT(name, '-deleted-', UNIX_TIMESTAMP()),
+    1,
+    64
+  )
+WHERE
+  deleted_at IS NOT NULL
+  AND name NOT LIKE '%-deleted-%';
\ No newline at end of file