diff --git a/toot/cli/tui.py b/toot/cli/tui.py
index 73110ae..12c82fd 100644
--- a/toot/cli/tui.py
+++ b/toot/cli/tui.py
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ COLOR_OPTIONS = ", ".join(TUI_COLORS.keys())
     type=click.Choice(IMAGE_FORMAT_CHOICES),
     help="Image output format; support varies across terminals. Default: block"
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--show-display-names",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Show display names instead of account names in the list view."
+)
 @pass_context
 def tui(
     ctx: Context,
@@ -54,7 +60,8 @@ def tui(
     relative_datetimes: bool,
     cache_size: Optional[int],
     default_visibility: Optional[str],
-    image_format: Optional[str]
+    image_format: Optional[str],
+    show_display_names: bool,
 ):
     """Launches the toot terminal user interface"""
     if colors is None:
@@ -68,6 +75,7 @@ def tui(
         default_visibility=default_visibility,
         always_show_sensitive=always_show_sensitive,
         image_format=image_format,
+        show_display_names=show_display_names,
     )
     tui = TUI.create(ctx.app, ctx.user, options)
     tui.run()
diff --git a/toot/tui/app.py b/toot/tui/app.py
index 483d829..29fe1a0 100644
--- a/toot/tui/app.py
+++ b/toot/tui/app.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class TuiOptions(NamedTuple):
     cache_size: int
     default_visibility: Optional[str]
     image_format: Optional[str]
+    show_display_names: bool
 
 
 class Header(urwid.WidgetWrap):
@@ -97,12 +98,12 @@ class TUI(urwid.Frame):
     screen: urwid.BaseScreen
 
     @staticmethod
-    def create(app: App, user: User, args: TuiOptions):
+    def create(app: App, user: User, options: TuiOptions):
         """Factory method, sets up TUI and an event loop."""
         screen = TuiScreen()
-        screen.set_terminal_properties(args.colors)
+        screen.set_terminal_properties(options.colors)
 
-        tui = TUI(app, user, screen, args)
+        tui = TUI(app, user, screen, options)
 
         palette = PALETTE.copy()
         overrides = settings.get_setting("tui.palette", dict, {})
diff --git a/toot/tui/timeline.py b/toot/tui/timeline.py
index 1aa4936..ab8c78b 100644
--- a/toot/tui/timeline.py
+++ b/toot/tui/timeline.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class Timeline(urwid.Columns):
         return urwid.ListBox(walker)
 
     def build_list_item(self, status):
-        item = StatusListItem(status, self.tui.options.relative_datetimes)
+        item = StatusListItem(status, self.tui.options)
         urwid.connect_signal(item, "click", lambda *args:
             self.tui.show_context_menu(status))
         return urwid.AttrMap(item, None, focus_map={
@@ -593,14 +593,14 @@ class StatusDetails(urwid.Pile):
 
 
 class StatusListItem(SelectableColumns):
-    def __init__(self, status, relative_datetimes):
+    def __init__(self, status, options):
         edited_at = status.original.edited_at
 
         # TODO: hacky implementation to avoid creating conflicts for existing
         # pull requests, refactor when merged.
         created_at = (
             time_ago(status.created_at).ljust(3, " ")
-            if relative_datetimes
+            if options.relative_datetimes
             else status.created_at.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
         )
 
@@ -610,6 +610,10 @@ class StatusListItem(SelectableColumns):
         is_reblog = ("dim", "♺") if status.reblog else " "
         is_reply = ("dim", "⤶ ") if status.original.in_reply_to else "  "
 
+        display_name = status.original.author.display_name
+        account_name = status.original.account
+        name = display_name if display_name and options.show_display_names else account_name
+
         return super().__init__([
             ("pack", SelectableText(("status_list_timestamp", created_at), wrap="clip")),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(("status_list_timestamp", edited_flag))),
@@ -618,7 +622,7 @@ class StatusListItem(SelectableColumns):
             ("pack", urwid.Text(" ")),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(reblogged)),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(" ")),
-            urwid.Text(("status_list_account", status.original.account), wrap="clip"),
+            urwid.Text(("status_list_account", name), wrap="clip"),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(is_reply)),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(is_reblog)),
             ("pack", urwid.Text(" ")),