diff --git a/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini b/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
index 82a46adf62..bca84c47de 100644
--- a/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
+++ b/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
@@ -2485,6 +2485,7 @@ NumCharsToDrawBehind=2
 NumCharsToDrawTotal=10
 FakeBeatsPerSec=2.5
 TimerSeconds=24
+MaxRankingNameLength=4
 StyleIcon=1
 
 [EditMenu]
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
index 3eef07d73a..920f145f1a 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #define NUM_CHARS_TO_DRAW_TOTAL		THEME->GetMetricI("ScreenNameEntry","NumCharsToDrawTotal")
 #define FAKE_BEATS_PER_SEC			THEME->GetMetricF("ScreenNameEntry","FakeBeatsPerSec")
 #define TIMER_SECONDS				THEME->GetMetricI("ScreenNameEntry","TimerSeconds")
+#define MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH		THEME->GetMetricI(m_sName,"MaxRankingNameLength")
 
 
 // cache for frequently used metrics
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
index 50fdec6fb4..dfeaa116ea 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
@@ -31,14 +31,15 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void MenuStart( PlayerNumber pn );
 
+	enum { ABS_MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH = 10 };
 private:
 	bool AnyStillEntering() const;
 
 	BGAnimation		m_Background;
 
 	GrayArrowRow	m_GrayArrowRow[NUM_PLAYERS];
-	BitmapText		m_textSelectedChars[NUM_PLAYERS][MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
-	BitmapText		m_textScrollingChars[NUM_PLAYERS][MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
+	BitmapText		m_textSelectedChars[NUM_PLAYERS][ABS_MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
+	BitmapText		m_textScrollingChars[NUM_PLAYERS][ABS_MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
 	BitmapText		m_textCategory[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	MenuTimer		m_Timer;