diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp b/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
index 4eb016aa8a..e5bda5ab77 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ static const char *const TAG = "entity_base";
 
 // Entity Name
 const StringRef &EntityBase::get_name() const { return this->name_; }
-void EntityBase::set_name(const char *name) { this->set_name(name, 0); }
-void EntityBase::set_name(const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash) {
+
+void EntityBase::configure_entity(const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash, uint32_t entity_strings_packed) {
   this->name_ = StringRef(name);
   if (this->name_.empty()) {
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ void EntityBase::set_name(const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash) {
       this->calc_object_id_();
     }
   }
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_DEVICE_CLASS
+  this->device_class_idx_ = entity_strings_packed & 0xFF;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_UNIT_OF_MEASUREMENT
+  this->uom_idx_ = (entity_strings_packed >> 8) & 0xFF;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
+  this->icon_idx_ = (entity_strings_packed >> 16) & 0xFF;
+#endif
 }
 
 // Weak default lookup functions — overridden by generated code in main.cpp
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_base.h b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
index 30073fed15..bf05e50f06 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_base.h
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
@@ -54,12 +54,11 @@ enum EntityCategory : uint8_t {
 // The generic Entity base class that provides an interface common to all Entities.
 class EntityBase {
  public:
-  // Get/set the name of this Entity
+  // Get the name of this Entity
   const StringRef &get_name() const;
-  void set_name(const char *name);
-  /// Set name with pre-computed object_id hash (avoids runtime hash calculation)
-  /// Use hash=0 for dynamic names that need runtime calculation
-  void set_name(const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash);
+
+  /// Combined entity setup from codegen: set name, object_id hash, and entity string indices.
+  void configure_entity(const char *name, uint32_t object_id_hash, uint32_t entity_strings_packed);
 
   // Get whether this Entity has its own name or it should use the device friendly_name.
   bool has_own_name() const { return this->flags_.has_own_name; }
@@ -104,20 +103,6 @@ class EntityBase {
     this->flags_.entity_category = static_cast<uint8_t>(entity_category);
   }
 
-  // Set entity string table indices — one call per entity from codegen.
-  // Packed: [23..16] icon | [15..8] UoM | [7..0] device_class (each 8 bits)
-  void set_entity_strings([[maybe_unused]] uint32_t packed) {
-#ifdef USE_ENTITY_DEVICE_CLASS
-    this->device_class_idx_ = packed & 0xFF;
-#endif
-#ifdef USE_ENTITY_UNIT_OF_MEASUREMENT
-    this->uom_idx_ = (packed >> 8) & 0xFF;
-#endif
-#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
-    this->icon_idx_ = (packed >> 16) & 0xFF;
-#endif
-  }
-
   // Get this entity's device class into a stack buffer.
   // On ESP32: returns pointer to PROGMEM string directly (buffer unused).
   // On ESP8266: copies from PROGMEM to buffer, returns buffer pointer.
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
index f45a9dae7a..38a92d9820 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ DOMAIN = "entity_string_pool"
 _KEY_DC_IDX = "_entity_dc_idx"
 _KEY_UOM_IDX = "_entity_uom_idx"
 _KEY_ICON_IDX = "_entity_icon_idx"
+_KEY_ENTITY_NAME = "_entity_name"
+_KEY_OBJECT_ID_HASH = "_entity_object_id_hash"
 
-# Bit layout for set_entity_strings(packed) — must match C++ setter in entity_base.h:
+# Bit layout for entity_strings_packed in configure_entity() — must match C++ in entity_base.h:
 #   [23..16] icon (8 bits) | [15..8] UoM (8 bits) | [7..0] device_class (8 bits)
 _DC_SHIFT = 0
 _UOM_SHIFT = 8
@@ -218,17 +220,18 @@ def setup_unit_of_measurement(config: ConfigType) -> None:
 
 
 def finalize_entity_strings(var: MockObj, config: ConfigType) -> None:
-    """Emit a single set_entity_strings() call with all packed indices.
+    """Emit a single configure_entity() call with name, hash, and packed string indices.
 
     Call this at the end of each component's setup function, after
     setup_entity() and any register_device_class/register_unit_of_measurement calls.
     """
+    entity_name = config[_KEY_ENTITY_NAME]
+    object_id_hash = config[_KEY_OBJECT_ID_HASH]
     dc_idx = config.get(_KEY_DC_IDX, 0)
     uom_idx = config.get(_KEY_UOM_IDX, 0)
     icon_idx = config.get(_KEY_ICON_IDX, 0)
     packed = (dc_idx << _DC_SHIFT) | (uom_idx << _UOM_SHIFT) | (icon_idx << _ICON_SHIFT)
-    if packed != 0:
-        add(var.set_entity_strings(packed))
+    add(var.configure_entity(entity_name, object_id_hash, packed))
 
 
 def get_base_entity_object_id(
@@ -330,13 +333,15 @@ async def _setup_entity_impl(var: MockObj, config: ConfigType, platform: str) ->
         device: MockObj = await get_variable(device_id_obj)
         add(var.set_device(device))
 
-    # Set the entity name with pre-computed object_id hash
+    # Pre-compute entity name and object_id hash for configure_entity()
+    # which is emitted later by finalize_entity_strings().
     # For named entities: pre-compute hash from entity name
     # For empty-name entities: pass 0, C++ calculates hash at runtime from
     # device name, friendly_name, or app name (bug-for-bug compatibility)
     entity_name = config[CONF_NAME]
     object_id_hash = fnv1_hash_object_id(entity_name) if entity_name else 0
-    add(var.set_name(entity_name, object_id_hash))
+    config[_KEY_ENTITY_NAME] = entity_name
+    config[_KEY_OBJECT_ID_HASH] = object_id_hash
     # Only set disabled_by_default if True (default is False)
     if config[CONF_DISABLED_BY_DEFAULT]:
         add(var.set_disabled_by_default(True))
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py b/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
index ce4e64681f..d36d4a4e10 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/binary_sensor/test_binary_sensor.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def test_binary_sensor_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     )
 
     # Then
-    assert 'bs_1->set_name("test bs1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'bs_1->configure_entity("test bs1",' in main_cpp
     assert "bs_1->set_pin(" in main_cpp
 
 
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py b/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
index 797b6fb1a4..da90f2c1a5 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/button/test_button.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def test_button_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/button/test_button.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'wol_1->set_name("wol_test_1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'wol_1->configure_entity("wol_test_1",' in main_cpp
     assert "wol_2->set_macaddr(18, 52, 86, 120, 144, 171);" in main_cpp
 
 
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/sensor/test_sensor.py b/tests/component_tests/sensor/test_sensor.py
index 221e7edf2c..c489f99b50 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/sensor/test_sensor.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/sensor/test_sensor.py
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ def test_sensor_device_class_set(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/sensor/test_sensor.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert "s_1->set_entity_strings(" in main_cpp
+    assert "s_1->configure_entity(" in main_cpp
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py b/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
index 6b047bc62f..8a16d99540 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/text/test_text.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def test_text_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/text/test_text.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'it_1->set_name("test 1 text",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'it_1->configure_entity("test 1 text",' in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_text_config_value_internal_set(generate_main):
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py b/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
index 4aaebe04d1..2203cce561 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ def test_text_sensor_sets_mandatory_fields(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert 'ts_1->set_name("Template Text Sensor 1",' in main_cpp
-    assert 'ts_2->set_name("Template Text Sensor 2",' in main_cpp
-    assert 'ts_3->set_name("Template Text Sensor 3",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'ts_1->configure_entity("Template Text Sensor 1",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'ts_2->configure_entity("Template Text Sensor 2",' in main_cpp
+    assert 'ts_3->configure_entity("Template Text Sensor 3",' in main_cpp
 
 
 def test_text_sensor_config_value_internal_set(generate_main):
@@ -54,5 +54,5 @@ def test_text_sensor_device_class_set(generate_main):
     main_cpp = generate_main("tests/component_tests/text_sensor/test_text_sensor.yaml")
 
     # Then
-    assert "ts_2->set_entity_strings(" in main_cpp
-    assert "ts_3->set_entity_strings(" in main_cpp
+    assert "ts_2->configure_entity(" in main_cpp
+    assert "ts_3->configure_entity(" in main_cpp
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
index 1392a1d043..0c38b2ef84 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
@@ -32,9 +32,11 @@ from esphome.helpers import sanitize, snake_case
 
 from .common import load_config_from_fixture
 
-# Pre-compiled regex pattern for extracting names from set_name calls
-# Matches: .set_name("name", hash) or .set_name("name")
-SET_NAME_PATTERN = re.compile(r'\.set_name\(["\']([^"\']*)["\']')
+# Pre-compiled regex pattern for extracting names from configure_entity/set_name calls
+# Matches: .configure_entity("name", ...) or .set_name("name", ...)
+ENTITY_NAME_PATTERN = re.compile(
+    r'\.(?:configure_entity|set_name)\(["\']([^"\']*)["\']'
+)
 
 FIXTURES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "fixtures" / "core" / "entity_helpers"
 
@@ -276,15 +278,23 @@ def setup_test_environment() -> Generator[list[str], None, None]:
     entity_helpers.add = original_add
 
 
-def extract_object_id_from_expressions(expressions: list[str]) -> str | None:
-    """Extract the object ID that would be computed from set_name calls.
+def extract_object_id_from_config(config: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
+    """Extract the object ID from config keys set by _setup_entity_impl."""
+    name = config.get("_entity_name")
+    if name is None:
+        return None
+    if name:
+        return sanitize(snake_case(name))
+    # Empty name - fall back to friendly_name or device name
+    if CORE.friendly_name:
+        return sanitize(snake_case(CORE.friendly_name))
+    return sanitize(snake_case(CORE.name)) if CORE.name else None
 
-    Since object_id is now computed from the name (via snake_case + sanitize),
-    we extract the name from set_name() calls and compute the expected object_id.
-    For empty names, we fall back to CORE.friendly_name or CORE.name.
-    """
+
+def extract_object_id_from_expressions(expressions: list[str]) -> str | None:
+    """Extract the object ID from configure_entity() calls in generated expressions."""
     for expr in expressions:
-        if match := SET_NAME_PATTERN.search(expr):
+        if match := ENTITY_NAME_PATTERN.search(expr):
             name = match.group(1)
             if name:
                 return sanitize(snake_case(name))
@@ -299,7 +309,7 @@ def extract_object_id_from_expressions(expressions: list[str]) -> str | None:
 async def test_setup_entity_no_duplicates(setup_test_environment: list[str]) -> None:
     """Test setup_entity with unique names."""
 
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # Create mock entities
     var1 = MockObj("sensor1")
@@ -312,13 +322,10 @@ async def test_setup_entity_no_duplicates(setup_test_environment: list[str]) ->
     }
     await _setup_entity_impl(var1, config1, "sensor")
 
-    # Get object ID from first entity
-    object_id1 = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
+    # Get object ID from first entity (stored in config, emitted later by finalize)
+    object_id1 = extract_object_id_from_config(config1)
     assert object_id1 == "temperature"
 
-    # Clear for next entity
-    added_expressions.clear()
-
     # Set up second entity with different name
     config2 = {
         CONF_NAME: "Humidity",
@@ -327,7 +334,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_no_duplicates(setup_test_environment: list[str]) ->
     await _setup_entity_impl(var2, config2, "sensor")
 
     # Get object ID from second entity
-    object_id2 = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
+    object_id2 = extract_object_id_from_config(config2)
     assert object_id2 == "humidity"
 
 
@@ -337,7 +344,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_different_platforms(
 ) -> None:
     """Test that same name on different platforms doesn't conflict."""
 
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # Create mock entities
     sensor = MockObj("sensor1")
@@ -356,15 +363,11 @@ async def test_setup_entity_different_platforms(
         (text_sensor, "text_sensor"),
     ]
 
-    object_ids: list[str] = []
     for var, platform in platforms:
-        added_expressions.clear()
         await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, platform)
-        object_id = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
-        object_ids.append(object_id)
 
-    # All should get base object ID without suffix
-    assert all(obj_id == "status" for obj_id in object_ids)
+    # All should get the same object ID (name stored in config, not platform-specific)
+    assert extract_object_id_from_config(config) == "status"
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -389,7 +392,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_with_devices(
     setup_test_environment: list[str], mock_get_variable: dict[ID, MockObj]
 ) -> None:
     """Test that same name on different devices doesn't conflict."""
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # Create mock devices
     device1_id = ID("device1", type="Device")
@@ -418,23 +421,19 @@ async def test_setup_entity_with_devices(
     }
 
     # Get object IDs
-    object_ids: list[str] = []
     for var, config in [(sensor1, config1), (sensor2, config2)]:
-        added_expressions.clear()
         await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
-        object_id = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
-        object_ids.append(object_id)
 
     # Both should get base object ID without suffix (different devices)
-    assert object_ids[0] == "temperature"
-    assert object_ids[1] == "temperature"
+    assert extract_object_id_from_config(config1) == "temperature"
+    assert extract_object_id_from_config(config2) == "temperature"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_setup_entity_empty_name(setup_test_environment: list[str]) -> None:
     """Test setup_entity with empty entity name."""
 
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     var = MockObj("sensor1")
 
@@ -445,7 +444,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name(setup_test_environment: list[str]) -> Non
 
     await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
 
-    object_id = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
+    object_id = extract_object_id_from_config(config)
     # Should use friendly name
     assert object_id == "test_device"
 
@@ -456,7 +455,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_special_characters(
 ) -> None:
     """Test setup_entity with names containing special characters."""
 
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     var = MockObj("sensor1")
 
@@ -466,7 +465,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_special_characters(
     }
 
     await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
-    object_id = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
+    object_id = extract_object_id_from_config(config)
 
     # Special characters should be sanitized
     assert object_id == "temperature_sensor_"
@@ -800,10 +799,9 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_with_device(
     # Check that set_device was called
     assert any("sensor1.set_device" in expr for expr in added_expressions)
 
-    # For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
-    assert any('set_name("", 0)' in expr for expr in added_expressions), (
-        f"Expected set_name with hash 0, got {added_expressions}"
-    )
+    # For empty-name entities, Python stores hash 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
+    assert config.get("_entity_name") == ""
+    assert config.get("_entity_object_id_hash") == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -815,7 +813,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_with_mac_suffix(
     For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 and C++ calculates the hash
     at runtime from friendly_name (bug-for-bug compatibility).
     """
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # Set up CORE.config with name_add_mac_suffix enabled
     CORE.config = {"name_add_mac_suffix": True}
@@ -831,10 +829,9 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_with_mac_suffix(
 
     await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
 
-    # For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
-    assert any('set_name("", 0)' in expr for expr in added_expressions), (
-        f"Expected set_name with hash 0, got {added_expressions}"
-    )
+    # For empty-name entities, Python stores hash 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
+    assert config.get("_entity_name") == ""
+    assert config.get("_entity_object_id_hash") == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -847,7 +844,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_with_mac_suffix_no_friendly_name(
     at runtime. In this case C++ will hash the empty friendly_name
     (bug-for-bug compatibility).
     """
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # Set up CORE.config with name_add_mac_suffix enabled
     CORE.config = {"name_add_mac_suffix": True}
@@ -863,10 +860,9 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_with_mac_suffix_no_friendly_name(
 
     await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
 
-    # For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
-    assert any('set_name("", 0)' in expr for expr in added_expressions), (
-        f"Expected set_name with hash 0, got {added_expressions}"
-    )
+    # For empty-name entities, Python stores hash 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
+    assert config.get("_entity_name") == ""
+    assert config.get("_entity_object_id_hash") == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -878,7 +874,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_no_mac_suffix_no_friendly_name(
     For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 and C++ calculates the hash
     at runtime from the device name.
     """
-    added_expressions = setup_test_environment
+    setup_test_environment  # noqa: F841 - fixture initializes CORE state
 
     # No MAC suffix (either not set or False)
     CORE.config = {}
@@ -896,10 +892,9 @@ async def test_setup_entity_empty_name_no_mac_suffix_no_friendly_name(
 
     await _setup_entity_impl(var, config, "sensor")
 
-    # For empty-name entities, Python passes 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
-    assert any('set_name("", 0)' in expr for expr in added_expressions), (
-        f"Expected set_name with hash 0, got {added_expressions}"
-    )
+    # For empty-name entities, Python stores hash 0 - C++ calculates hash at runtime
+    assert config.get("_entity_name") == ""
+    assert config.get("_entity_object_id_hash") == 0
 
 
 def test_register_string_overflow() -> None:
@@ -976,7 +971,7 @@ async def test_setup_entity_direct_call(setup_test_environment: list[str]) -> No
     # Direct call mode: await setup_entity(var, config, "camera")
     await setup_entity(var, config, "camera")
 
-    # Should have called set_name
+    # Should have emitted configure_entity
     object_id = extract_object_id_from_expressions(added_expressions)
     assert object_id == "my_camera"