diff --git a/cmd/create.go b/cmd/create.go
index a5a20dc..9e161c5 100644
--- a/cmd/create.go
+++ b/cmd/create.go
@@ -151,22 +151,23 @@ var createCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Branch — prompt if omitted and in a terminal
+		// Name — known early so the branch prompt can default to it.
+		var name string
+		if len(args) > 0 {
+			name = args[0]
+		}
+
+		// Branch — prompt if omitted and in a terminal.
 		branch := createBranch
 		if branch == "" {
 			if console.IsTerminal(os.Stdin) {
-				branch = console.Prompt("Branch name")
+				branch = console.PromptDefault("Branch name", name)
 			}
 			if branch == "" {
 				exitError("Branch is required: --branch / -b")
 			}
 		}
-
-		// Name
-		var name string
-		if len(args) > 0 {
-			name = args[0]
-		} else {
+		if name == "" {
 			name = deriveName(branch)
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/console/console.go b/internal/console/console.go
index 4a76d97..288b6a1 100644
--- a/internal/console/console.go
+++ b/internal/console/console.go
@@ -77,10 +77,24 @@ func Confirm(prompt string, defaultYes bool) bool {
 
 // Prompt asks the user for text input.
 func Prompt(label string) string {
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s: ", label)
+	return PromptDefault(label, "")
+}
+
+// PromptDefault asks the user for text input, showing defaultValue in brackets
+// when non-empty. Empty input (just Enter) returns defaultValue.
+func PromptDefault(label, defaultValue string) string {
+	if defaultValue != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s [%s]: ", label, defaultValue)
+	} else {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s: ", label)
+	}
 	reader := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
 	input, _ := reader.ReadString('\n')
-	return strings.TrimSpace(input)
+	input = strings.TrimSpace(input)
+	if input == "" {
+		return defaultValue
+	}
+	return input
 }
 
 // IsTerminal returns true if the given file is a terminal.
diff --git a/internal/console/prompt_test.go b/internal/console/prompt_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f424187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/console/prompt_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package console
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func withStdin(t *testing.T, input string, fn func()) (stderr string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	rIn, wIn, err := os.Pipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stdin pipe: %v", err)
+	}
+	rErr, wErr, err := os.Pipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr pipe: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	oldIn, oldErr := os.Stdin, os.Stderr
+	os.Stdin, os.Stderr = rIn, wErr
+	defer func() {
+		os.Stdin, os.Stderr = oldIn, oldErr
+		rIn.Close()
+		rErr.Close()
+	}()
+
+	go func() {
+		_, _ = io.WriteString(wIn, input)
+		wIn.Close()
+	}()
+
+	fn()
+
+	wErr.Close()
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	_, _ = io.Copy(&buf, rErr)
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+func TestPromptDefault_EmptyAcceptsDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	var got string
+	stderr := withStdin(t, "\n", func() {
+		got = PromptDefault("Branch name", "linear-2026-07-30")
+	})
+	if got != "linear-2026-07-30" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want default", got)
+	}
+	if want := "Branch name [linear-2026-07-30]: "; stderr != want {
+		t.Errorf("prompt = %q, want %q", stderr, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPromptDefault_Override(t *testing.T) {
+	var got string
+	_ = withStdin(t, "feat/other\n", func() {
+		got = PromptDefault("Branch name", "linear-2026-07-30")
+	})
+	if got != "feat/other" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want override", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPromptDefault_NoDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	var got string
+	stderr := withStdin(t, "feat/login\n", func() {
+		got = PromptDefault("Branch name", "")
+	})
+	if got != "feat/login" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want typed value", got)
+	}
+	if want := "Branch name: "; stderr != want {
+		t.Errorf("prompt = %q, want %q", stderr, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPromptDefault_EmptyNoDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	var got string
+	_ = withStdin(t, "\n", func() {
+		got = PromptDefault("Branch name", "")
+	})
+	if got != "" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want empty", got)
+	}
+}