diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs b/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
index 73c6bde90f..076ebce118 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ mod items;
 mod measure;
 mod pages;
 
-use common::collect_values;
 pub(crate) use common::date_pattern;
 pub use common::formatted_value;
+use common::{collect_names, collect_values};
 pub(crate) use items::UNDERLINE_DROP;
 pub use items::{Action, BorderShape, Form, Item, Page, Rounded, Widget, WidgetBorder, WidgetKind};
 
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ struct Layouter<'t> {
     pages: Vec<Page>,
     cur: Option<Cursor>,
     names: HashMap<String, usize>,
+    /// Every PDF field name handed out so far.
+    taken: HashSet<String>,
+    /// The names the template's fields and groups take as written ([`common::collect_names`]),
+    /// which a made-up `_2`, `_3` name must not take.
+    template_names: HashSet<String>,
     /// Field values by `id`, for embedded fields in rich text.
     values: HashMap<String, String>,
     warnings: Vec<String>,
@@ -183,6 +188,8 @@ pub fn layout(tpl: &Template, data: Option<&DataNode>) -> Result<Form, XfaError>
     // One copy of the root for the whole layout: measurements are cached by node address.
     let root_node = Node::Subform(Box::new(tpl.root.clone()));
     collect_values(std::slice::from_ref(&root_node), &mut values, 0);
+    let mut template_names = HashSet::new();
+    collect_names(std::slice::from_ref(&root_node), &mut template_names, 0);
     let mut l = Layouter {
         tpl,
         data,
@@ -191,6 +198,8 @@ pub fn layout(tpl: &Template, data: Option<&DataNode>) -> Result<Form, XfaError>
         pages: Vec::new(),
         cur: None,
         names: HashMap::new(),
+        taken: HashSet::new(),
+        template_names,
         values,
         warnings: Vec::new(),
         warned: HashSet::new(),
diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/layout/common.rs b/crates/xfa/src/layout/common.rs
index 625f305a6b..de855219e3 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/layout/common.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/layout/common.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::items::{Action, Item, Rounded};
-use super::{HashMap, Layout, MAX_DEPTH, Node, Rect, Script, date_letters, iso_to_pattern};
+use super::{HashMap, HashSet, Layout, MAX_DEPTH, Node, Rect, Script, date_letters, iso_to_pattern};
 
 pub(super) fn collect_values(nodes: &[Node], out: &mut HashMap<String, String>, depth: usize) {
     if depth > MAX_DEPTH {
@@ -26,6 +26,39 @@ pub(super) fn collect_values(nodes: &[Node], out: &mut HashMap<String, String>,
     }
 }
 
+/// The PDF field names the template's fields and exclusion groups take as written
+/// ([`clean_name`]): a name the layout makes up for a repeated field (`Cell4` → `Cell4_2`) must
+/// not be one of these, or two PDF fields would share it.
+pub(super) fn collect_names(nodes: &[Node], out: &mut HashSet<String>, depth: usize) {
+    if depth > MAX_DEPTH {
+        return;
+    }
+    for n in nodes {
+        match n {
+            Node::Field(f) => {
+                if let Some(name) = &f.common.name {
+                    out.insert(clean_name(name));
+                }
+            }
+            Node::ExclGroup(g) => {
+                if let Some(name) = &g.common.name {
+                    out.insert(clean_name(name));
+                }
+            }
+            Node::Subform(s) => {
+                collect_names(&s.children, out, depth + 1);
+                if let Some(ps) = &s.page_set {
+                    for a in &ps.areas {
+                        collect_names(&a.items, out, depth + 1);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Node::Area(a) => collect_names(&a.children, out, depth + 1),
+            Node::Draw(_) => {}
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 pub(super) fn clamp_opt(v: f64, min: Option<f64>, max: Option<f64>) -> f64 {
     let mut v = v;
     if let Some(m) = min {
diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/layout/draw.rs b/crates/xfa/src/layout/draw.rs
index f6520c1628..b71e5114e8 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/layout/draw.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/layout/draw.rs
@@ -316,12 +316,20 @@ impl Layouter<'_> {
         self.push(Item::Image { rect: fitted, data: Arc::new(data.to_vec()), content_type: content_type.to_string() })
     }
 
-    /// A field name made from `base` that no earlier field of the form has: the first keeps it,
-    /// later ones get `_2`, `_3`, ….
+    /// A field name made from `base` that no other field of the form has: the first keeps it,
+    /// later ones get `_2`, `_3`, …, skipping a name another field already has or that the
+    /// template gives another field (a template field named `Cell4_2` keeps it, and the second
+    /// `Cell4` becomes `Cell4_3`).
     pub(super) fn unique_name(&mut self, base: &str) -> String {
         let base = clean_name(base);
-        let n = self.names.entry(base.clone()).or_insert(0);
-        *n += 1;
-        if *n == 1 { base } else { format!("{base}_{n}") }
+        loop {
+            let n = self.names.entry(base.clone()).or_insert(0);
+            *n = n.saturating_add(1);
+            let candidate = if *n == 1 { base.clone() } else { format!("{base}_{n}") };
+            let reserved = *n > 1 && self.template_names.contains(&candidate);
+            if !reserved && self.taken.insert(candidate.clone()) {
+                return candidate;
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs b/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
index ca129abceb..e6b562290f 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
@@ -4089,3 +4089,31 @@ fn clear_password_values_clears_static_xfa_password_fields() {
     let packets = read_packets(&doc).unwrap().unwrap();
     assert!(!packets.xdp.contains("hunter2"), "{}", packets.xdp);
 }
+
+/// Two PDF fields never share a name: a made-up `_2`, `_3` name skips one the template gives
+/// another field. Whichever comes first in layout order, the field the template names `Cell4_2`
+/// keeps that name and the second `Cell4` takes the next free one. Before, the second `Cell4`
+/// became `Cell4_2` as well, so a script writing by that name hit the wrong cell.
+#[test]
+fn a_made_up_field_name_never_takes_one_the_template_uses() {
+    for rows in [["Cell4", "Cell4_2", "Cell4"], ["Cell4", "Cell4", "Cell4_2"]] {
+        let body: String = rows
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(i, name)| {
+                format!(r#"<subform name="row{i}" layout="tb"><field name="{name}" w="2in" h="0.3in"><ui><textEdit/></ui></field></subform>"#)
+            })
+            .collect();
+        let form = layout_xml(&one_area_form(r#"layout="tb""#, &body)).unwrap();
+        let all = widgets(&form.pages[0]);
+        let names: Vec<&str> = all.iter().map(|w| w.name.as_str()).collect();
+        let mut unique = names.clone();
+        unique.sort_unstable();
+        unique.dedup();
+        assert_eq!(unique.len(), names.len(), "{rows:?}: {names:?}");
+        let template_named = rows.iter().position(|n| *n == "Cell4_2").unwrap();
+        let som = format!("form[0].row{template_named}[0].Cell4_2[0]");
+        let got = all.iter().find(|w| w.som == som).map(|w| w.name.as_str());
+        assert_eq!(got, Some("Cell4_2"), "{rows:?}: the template's own name is kept ({names:?})");
+    }
+}