diff --git a/client/src/api/index.ts b/client/src/api/index.ts
index be992a9a504f..db8f67c3d53d 100644
--- a/client/src/api/index.ts
+++ b/client/src/api/index.ts
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ export function isHistoryItem(item: object): item is HistoryItemSummary {
     return item && "history_content_type" in item;
 }
 
+export function isCollectionItem(item: object): item is DCESummary {
+    return item && "element_type" in item;
+}
+
 type QuotaUsageResponse = components["schemas"]["UserQuotaUsage"];
 
 /** Represents a registered user.**/
diff --git a/client/src/utils/setDrag.ts b/client/src/utils/setDrag.ts
index 35f10672d857..ef4c4e87df49 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/setDrag.ts
+++ b/client/src/utils/setDrag.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 /**
  * Helper to configure datatransfer for drag & drop operations
  */
+import { type DCESummary, isCollectionItem } from "@/api";
 import { type EventData, useEventStore } from "@/stores/eventStore";
 
+type NamedDCESummary = DCESummary & { name: string };
+
 export function setDrag(evt: DragEvent, data?: EventData, multiple = false) {
     const eventStore = useEventStore();
     if (data) {
@@ -36,10 +39,18 @@ export function setItemDragstart<T>(
     if (selectedItems && itemIsSelected && selectionSize > 1) {
         const selectedItemsObj: Record<string, T> = {};
         for (const [key, value] of selectedItems) {
+            setCollectionElementName(value as any);
             selectedItemsObj[key] = value;
         }
         setDrag(event, selectedItemsObj, true);
     } else {
+        setCollectionElementName(item as any);
         setDrag(event, item as any);
     }
 }
+
+function setCollectionElementName<T extends NamedDCESummary>(obj: T) {
+    if (isCollectionItem(obj as object)) {
+        obj["name"] = obj.element_identifier;
+    }
+}