diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/routes/search_source_connectors_routes.py b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/search_source_connectors_routes.py
index b241aa2fb..a813b2cc2 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/routes/search_source_connectors_routes.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/search_source_connectors_routes.py
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ from app.utils.periodic_scheduler import (
     delete_periodic_schedule,
     update_periodic_schedule,
 )
+from app.utils.connector_naming import ensure_unique_connector_name
 from app.utils.rbac import check_permission
 
 # Set up logging
@@ -189,6 +190,12 @@ async def create_search_source_connector(
         # Prepare connector data
         connector_data = connector.model_dump()
 
+        # MCP connectors support multiple instances — ensure unique name
+        if connector.connector_type == SearchSourceConnectorType.MCP_CONNECTOR:
+            connector_data["name"] = await ensure_unique_connector_name(
+                session, connector_data["name"], search_space_id, user.id
+            )
+
         # Automatically set next_scheduled_at if periodic indexing is enabled
         if (
             connector.periodic_indexing_enabled
@@ -2715,9 +2722,14 @@ async def create_mcp_connector(
             "You don't have permission to create connectors in this search space",
         )
 
+        # Ensure unique name across MCP connectors in this search space
+        unique_name = await ensure_unique_connector_name(
+            session, connector_data.name, search_space_id, user.id
+        )
+
         # Create the connector with single server config
         db_connector = SearchSourceConnector(
-            name=connector_data.name,
+            name=unique_name,
             connector_type=SearchSourceConnectorType.MCP_CONNECTOR,
             is_indexable=False,  # MCP connectors are not indexable
             config={"server_config": connector_data.server_config.model_dump()},
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/utils/connector_naming.py b/surfsense_backend/app/utils/connector_naming.py
index 7d3efc001..9fdec3e79 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/utils/connector_naming.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/utils/connector_naming.py
@@ -159,6 +159,44 @@ async def check_duplicate_connector(
     return (result.scalar() or 0) > 0
 
 
+async def ensure_unique_connector_name(
+    session: AsyncSession,
+    name: str,
+    search_space_id: int,
+    user_id: UUID,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Ensure a connector name is unique within a user's search space.
+
+    If the name already exists, appends a counter suffix: (2), (3), etc.
+    Uses the same suffix format as generate_unique_connector_name.
+
+    Args:
+        session: Database session
+        name: Desired connector name
+        search_space_id: The search space ID
+        user_id: The user ID
+
+    Returns:
+        Unique name, either the original or with a counter suffix
+    """
+    result = await session.execute(
+        select(SearchSourceConnector.name).where(
+            SearchSourceConnector.search_space_id == search_space_id,
+            SearchSourceConnector.user_id == user_id,
+        )
+    )
+    existing_names = {row[0] for row in result.all()}
+
+    if name not in existing_names:
+        return name
+
+    counter = 2
+    while f"{name} ({counter})" in existing_names:
+        counter += 1
+    return f"{name} ({counter})"
+
+
 async def generate_unique_connector_name(
     session: AsyncSession,
     connector_type: SearchSourceConnectorType,