diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 1323cbd183b..f7189ad1346 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -522,8 +522,8 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_light_info(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *c
     effects_list.init(light_effects.size() + 1);
     effects_list.push_back("None");
     for (auto *effect : light_effects) {
-      // data() is safe as effect names are null-terminated strings from codegen
-      effects_list.push_back(effect->get_name().data());
+      // c_str() is safe as effect names are null-terminated strings from codegen
+      effects_list.push_back(effect->get_name().c_str());
     }
   }
   msg.effects = &effects_list;
diff --git a/esphome/components/e131/e131.cpp b/esphome/components/e131/e131.cpp
index c45651bf538..f11e7f4fe3a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/e131/e131.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/e131/e131.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void E131Component::add_effect(E131AddressableLightEffect *light_effect) {
   }
 
   auto effect_name = light_effect->get_name();
-  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Registering '%.*s' for universes %d-%d.", (int) effect_name.size(), effect_name.data(),
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Registering '%.*s' for universes %d-%d.", (int) effect_name.size(), effect_name.c_str(),
            light_effect->get_first_universe(), light_effect->get_last_universe());
 
   light_effects_.push_back(light_effect);
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ void E131Component::remove_effect(E131AddressableLightEffect *light_effect) {
   }
 
   auto effect_name = light_effect->get_name();
-  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Unregistering '%.*s' for universes %d-%d.", (int) effect_name.size(), effect_name.data(),
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Unregistering '%.*s' for universes %d-%d.", (int) effect_name.size(), effect_name.c_str(),
            light_effect->get_first_universe(), light_effect->get_last_universe());
 
   // Swap with last element and pop for O(1) removal (order doesn't matter)
diff --git a/esphome/components/e131/e131_addressable_light_effect.cpp b/esphome/components/e131/e131_addressable_light_effect.cpp
index bfea6e6906a..7d62f739a24 100644
--- a/esphome/components/e131/e131_addressable_light_effect.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/e131/e131_addressable_light_effect.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ bool E131AddressableLightEffect::process_(int universe, const E131Packet &packet
 
   auto effect_name = get_name();
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Applying data for '%.*s' on %d universe, for %" PRId32 "-%d.", (int) effect_name.size(),
-           effect_name.data(), universe, output_offset, output_end);
+           effect_name.c_str(), universe, output_offset, output_end);
 
   switch (channels_) {
     case E131_MONO:
diff --git a/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp b/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
index de2f7a171a9..234d641f0dd 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include <cinttypes>
-#include <string_view>
 
 #include "light_call.h"
 #include "light_state.h"
@@ -155,15 +154,15 @@ void LightCall::perform() {
 
   } else if (this->has_effect_()) {
     // EFFECT
-    std::string_view effect_s;
+    StringRef effect_s;
     if (this->effect_ == 0u) {
-      effect_s = "None";
+      effect_s = StringRef::from_lit("None");
     } else {
       effect_s = this->parent_->effects_[this->effect_ - 1]->get_name();
     }
 
     if (publish) {
-      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "  Effect: '%.*s'", (int) effect_s.size(), effect_s.data());
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "  Effect: '%.*s'", (int) effect_s.size(), effect_s.c_str());
     }
 
     this->parent_->start_effect_(this->effect_);
@@ -513,9 +512,9 @@ LightCall &LightCall::set_effect(const char *effect, size_t len) {
   }
 
   bool found = false;
-  std::string_view effect_sv(effect, len);
+  StringRef effect_ref(effect, len);
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < this->parent_->effects_.size(); i++) {
-    if (str_equals_case_insensitive(effect_sv, this->parent_->effects_[i]->get_name())) {
+    if (str_equals_case_insensitive(effect_ref, this->parent_->effects_[i]->get_name())) {
       this->set_effect(i + 1);
       found = true;
       break;
diff --git a/esphome/components/light/light_effect.h b/esphome/components/light/light_effect.h
index 9a09c6d63ea..a89e3fec5a9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/light_effect.h
+++ b/esphome/components/light/light_effect.h
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <string_view>
-
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
+#include "esphome/core/string_ref.h"
 
 namespace esphome::light {
 
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ class LightEffect {
    * Returns the name of this effect.
    * The underlying data is valid for the lifetime of the program (static string from codegen).
    */
-  std::string_view get_name() const { return this->name_; }
+  StringRef get_name() const { return StringRef(this->name_); }
 
   /// Internal method called by the LightState when this light effect is registered in it.
   virtual void init() {}
diff --git a/esphome/components/light/light_state.cpp b/esphome/components/light/light_state.cpp
index c6f337dc759..91bb2e2f1f9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/light_state.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/light/light_state.cpp
@@ -162,21 +162,12 @@ void LightState::publish_state() {
 
 LightOutput *LightState::get_output() const { return this->output_; }
 
-static constexpr const char *EFFECT_NONE = "None";
 static constexpr auto EFFECT_NONE_REF = StringRef::from_lit("None");
 
-std::string_view LightState::get_effect_name() {
+StringRef LightState::get_effect_name() {
   if (this->active_effect_index_ > 0) {
     return this->effects_[this->active_effect_index_ - 1]->get_name();
   }
-  return EFFECT_NONE;
-}
-
-StringRef LightState::get_effect_name_ref() {
-  if (this->active_effect_index_ > 0) {
-    auto name = this->effects_[this->active_effect_index_ - 1]->get_name();
-    return StringRef(name.data(), name.size());
-  }
   return EFFECT_NONE_REF;
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/light/light_state.h b/esphome/components/light/light_state.h
index b5840594cdc..83b9226d039 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/light_state.h
+++ b/esphome/components/light/light_state.h
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <string_view>
-
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/optional.h"
@@ -142,9 +140,7 @@ class LightState : public EntityBase, public Component {
   LightOutput *get_output() const;
 
   /// Return the name of the current effect, or if no effect is active "None".
-  std::string_view get_effect_name();
-  /// Return the name of the current effect as StringRef (for API usage)
-  StringRef get_effect_name_ref();
+  StringRef get_effect_name();
 
   /** Add a listener for remote values changes.
    * Listener is notified when the light's remote values change (state, brightness, color, etc.)
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_light.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_light.cpp
index d126fe3012a..fac19f32109 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_light.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_light.cpp
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ void MQTTJSONLightComponent::send_discovery(JsonObject root, mqtt::SendDiscovery
     root[ESPHOME_F("effect")] = true;
     JsonArray effect_list = root[MQTT_EFFECT_LIST].to<JsonArray>();
     for (auto *effect : this->state_->get_effects()) {
-      // data() is safe as effect names are null-terminated strings from codegen
-      effect_list.add(effect->get_name().data());
+      // c_str() is safe as effect names are null-terminated strings from codegen
+      effect_list.add(effect->get_name().c_str());
     }
     effect_list.add(ESPHOME_F("None"));
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/prometheus/prometheus_handler.cpp b/esphome/components/prometheus/prometheus_handler.cpp
index 79727b828c6..4f23f18942b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/prometheus/prometheus_handler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/prometheus/prometheus_handler.cpp
@@ -363,15 +363,14 @@ void PrometheusHandler::light_row_(AsyncResponseStream *stream, light::LightStat
   // Skip effect metrics if light has no effects
   if (!obj->get_effects().empty()) {
     // Effect
-    std::string_view effect = obj->get_effect_name();
+    StringRef effect = obj->get_effect_name();
     print_metric_labels_(stream, ESPHOME_F("esphome_light_effect_active"), obj, area, node, friendly_name);
     stream->print(ESPHOME_F("\",effect=\""));
     // Only vary based on effect
     if (effect == "None") {
       stream->print(ESPHOME_F("None\"} 0\n"));
     } else {
-      // data() is safe as effect names are null-terminated strings from codegen
-      stream->print(effect.data());
+      stream->write(effect.c_str(), effect.size());
       stream->print(ESPHOME_F("\"} 1\n"));
     }
   }
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.cpp b/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
index 1a0692a3865..309407fbec8 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ float random_float() { return static_cast<float>(random_uint32()) / static_cast<
 bool str_equals_case_insensitive(const std::string &a, const std::string &b) {
   return strcasecmp(a.c_str(), b.c_str()) == 0;
 }
-bool str_equals_case_insensitive(std::string_view a, std::string_view b) {
-  return a.size() == b.size() && strncasecmp(a.data(), b.data(), a.size()) == 0;
+bool str_equals_case_insensitive(StringRef a, StringRef b) {
+  return a.size() == b.size() && strncasecmp(a.c_str(), b.c_str(), a.size()) == 0;
 }
 #if __cplusplus >= 202002L
 bool str_startswith(const std::string &str, const std::string &start) { return str.starts_with(start); }
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 20b490fb279..a8a91dbda61 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -511,8 +511,8 @@ template<typename T> constexpr T convert_little_endian(T val) {
 
 /// Compare strings for equality in case-insensitive manner.
 bool str_equals_case_insensitive(const std::string &a, const std::string &b);
-/// Compare string_views for equality in case-insensitive manner.
-bool str_equals_case_insensitive(std::string_view a, std::string_view b);
+/// Compare StringRefs for equality in case-insensitive manner.
+bool str_equals_case_insensitive(StringRef a, StringRef b);
 
 /// Check whether a string starts with a value.
 bool str_startswith(const std::string &str, const std::string &start);
diff --git a/tests/components/light/common.yaml b/tests/components/light/common.yaml
index 06243439b50..55525fc67ff 100644
--- a/tests/components/light/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/light/common.yaml
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 esphome:
   on_boot:
     then:
-      # Test LightEffect::get_name() returns string_view
+      # Test LightEffect::get_name() returns StringRef
       - lambda: |-
-          // Test LightEffect::get_name() returns std::string_view
+          // Test LightEffect::get_name() returns StringRef
           auto &effects = id(test_monochromatic_light).get_effects();
           if (!effects.empty()) {
-            // Test: get_name() returns string_view
-            std::string_view name = effects[0]->get_name();
+            // Test: get_name() returns StringRef
+            StringRef name = effects[0]->get_name();
 
             // Test: comparison with string literal works directly
             if (name == "Strobe") {
@@ -15,23 +15,23 @@ esphome:
             }
 
             // Test: safe logging with %.*s format
-            ESP_LOGI("test", "Effect name: %.*s", (int) name.size(), name.data());
+            ESP_LOGI("test", "Effect name: %.*s", (int) name.size(), name.c_str());
 
-            // Test: .data() for functions expecting const char*
-            ESP_LOGI("test", "Effect: %s", name.data());
+            // Test: .c_str() for functions expecting const char*
+            ESP_LOGI("test", "Effect: %s", name.c_str());
 
             // Test: explicit conversion to std::string
-            std::string name_str(name);
+            std::string name_str(name.c_str(), name.size());
             ESP_LOGI("test", "As string: %s", name_str.c_str());
 
             // Test: size() method
             ESP_LOGI("test", "Name length: %d", (int) name.size());
           }
 
-      # Test LightState::get_effect_name() returns string_view
+      # Test LightState::get_effect_name() returns StringRef
       - lambda: |-
-          // Test LightState::get_effect_name() returns std::string_view
-          std::string_view current_effect = id(test_monochromatic_light).get_effect_name();
+          // Test LightState::get_effect_name() returns StringRef
+          StringRef current_effect = id(test_monochromatic_light).get_effect_name();
 
           // Test: comparison with "None" works directly
           if (current_effect == "None") {
@@ -39,23 +39,23 @@ esphome:
           }
 
           // Test: safe logging
-          ESP_LOGI("test", "Current effect: %.*s", (int) current_effect.size(), current_effect.data());
+          ESP_LOGI("test", "Current effect: %.*s", (int) current_effect.size(), current_effect.c_str());
 
-      # Test str_equals_case_insensitive with string_view
+      # Test str_equals_case_insensitive with StringRef
       - lambda: |-
-          // Test str_equals_case_insensitive(string_view, string_view)
+          // Test str_equals_case_insensitive(StringRef, StringRef)
           auto &effects = id(test_monochromatic_light).get_effects();
           if (!effects.empty()) {
-            std::string_view name = effects[0]->get_name();
+            StringRef name = effects[0]->get_name();
 
             // Test: case-insensitive comparison
             if (str_equals_case_insensitive(name, "STROBE")) {
               ESP_LOGI("test", "Case-insensitive match works");
             }
 
-            // Test: case-insensitive with string_view from string
+            // Test: case-insensitive with StringRef from string
             std::string search = "strobe";
-            if (str_equals_case_insensitive(std::string_view(search), name)) {
+            if (str_equals_case_insensitive(StringRef(search.c_str(), search.size()), name)) {
               ESP_LOGI("test", "Reverse comparison works");
             }
           }