diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index e4d35f62a6..8c51122a4c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -207,9 +207,9 @@ uint32_t DeviceInfoResponse::calculate_size() const {
 }
 #ifdef USE_BINARY_SENSOR
 void ListEntitiesBinarySensorResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->device_class);
   buffer.encode_bool(6, this->is_status_binary_sensor);
   buffer.encode_bool(7, this->disabled_by_default);
@@ -259,9 +259,9 @@ uint32_t BinarySensorStateResponse::calculate_size() const {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_COVER
 void ListEntitiesCoverResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   buffer.encode_bool(5, this->assumed_state);
   buffer.encode_bool(6, this->supports_position);
   buffer.encode_bool(7, this->supports_tilt);
@@ -356,9 +356,9 @@ bool CoverCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_FAN
 void ListEntitiesFanResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   buffer.encode_bool(5, this->supports_oscillation);
   buffer.encode_bool(6, this->supports_speed);
   buffer.encode_bool(7, this->supports_direction);
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ bool FanCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_LIGHT
 void ListEntitiesLightResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   for (const auto &it : *this->supported_color_modes) {
     buffer.encode_uint32(12, static_cast<uint32_t>(it), true);
   }
@@ -682,9 +682,9 @@ bool LightCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_SENSOR
 void ListEntitiesSensorResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -740,9 +740,9 @@ uint32_t SensorStateResponse::calculate_size() const {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_SWITCH
 void ListEntitiesSwitchResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -815,9 +815,9 @@ bool SwitchCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_TEXT_SENSOR
 void ListEntitiesTextSensorResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -1268,9 +1268,9 @@ uint32_t ExecuteServiceResponse::calculate_size() const {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_CAMERA
 void ListEntitiesCameraResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   buffer.encode_bool(5, this->disabled_by_default);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(6, this->icon);
@@ -1329,9 +1329,9 @@ bool CameraImageRequest::decode_varint(uint32_t field_id, proto_varint_value_t v
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_CLIMATE
 void ListEntitiesClimateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
   buffer.encode_bool(5, this->supports_current_temperature);
   buffer.encode_bool(6, this->supports_two_point_target_temperature);
   for (const auto &it : *this->supported_modes) {
@@ -1562,9 +1562,9 @@ bool ClimateCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_WATER_HEATER
 void ListEntitiesWaterHeaterResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(4, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -1674,9 +1674,9 @@ bool WaterHeaterCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_NUMBER
 void ListEntitiesNumberResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -1759,9 +1759,9 @@ bool NumberCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_SELECT
 void ListEntitiesSelectResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -1848,9 +1848,9 @@ bool SelectCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_SIREN
 void ListEntitiesSirenResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -1960,9 +1960,9 @@ bool SirenCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_LOCK
 void ListEntitiesLockResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -2053,9 +2053,9 @@ bool LockCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_BUTTON
 void ListEntitiesButtonResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -2123,9 +2123,9 @@ uint32_t MediaPlayerSupportedFormat::calculate_size() const {
   return size;
 }
 void ListEntitiesMediaPlayerResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -2945,9 +2945,9 @@ bool VoiceAssistantSetConfiguration::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengt
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_ALARM_CONTROL_PANEL
 void ListEntitiesAlarmControlPanelResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3033,9 +3033,9 @@ bool AlarmControlPanelCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_TEXT
 void ListEntitiesTextResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3122,9 +3122,9 @@ bool TextCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_DATETIME_DATE
 void ListEntitiesDateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3205,9 +3205,9 @@ bool DateCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_DATETIME_TIME
 void ListEntitiesTimeResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3288,9 +3288,9 @@ bool TimeCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_EVENT
 void ListEntitiesEventResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3344,9 +3344,9 @@ uint32_t EventResponse::calculate_size() const {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_VALVE
 void ListEntitiesValveResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3431,9 +3431,9 @@ bool ValveCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_DATETIME_DATETIME
 void ListEntitiesDateTimeResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3504,9 +3504,9 @@ bool DateTimeCommandRequest::decode_32bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto32Bit value) {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_UPDATE
 void ListEntitiesUpdateResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon);
 #endif
@@ -3645,9 +3645,9 @@ uint32_t ZWaveProxyRequest::calculate_size() const {
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_INFRARED
 void ListEntitiesInfraredResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer &buffer) const {
-  buffer.encode_short_string(10, this->object_id);
+  buffer.write_short_string(10, this->object_id);
   buffer.write_tag_and_fixed32(21, this->key);
-  buffer.encode_short_string(26, this->name);
+  buffer.write_short_string(26, this->name);
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(4, this->icon);
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/proto.h b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
index 6bcd801682..33c8f80d1e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/proto.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class ProtoWriteBuffer {
   }
   /// Write tag + 1-byte length + raw string data. For strings with max_data_length < 128.
   /// Tag must be a single-byte varint (< 128). Always encodes (no zero check).
-  inline void encode_short_string(uint8_t tag, const StringRef &ref) ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE {
+  inline void write_short_string(uint8_t tag, const StringRef &ref) ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE {
     this->debug_check_bounds_(2 + ref.size());
     uint8_t *__restrict__ pos = this->pos_;
     *pos++ = tag;
diff --git a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
index 589e5dc140..6b8d63184c 100755
--- a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
+++ b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ class PointerToStringBufferType(PointerToBufferTypeBase):
         if max_len is not None and max_len < 128 and self.force:
             tag = self.calculate_tag()
             if tag < 128:
-                return f"buffer.encode_short_string({tag}, this->{self.field_name});"
+                return f"buffer.write_short_string({tag}, this->{self.field_name});"
         if result := self._encode_bytes_with_precomputed_tag(
             f"this->{self.field_name}.c_str()",
             f"this->{self.field_name}.size()",