diff --git a/docs/src/network-definition-spec.md b/docs/src/network-definition-spec.md
index 301d2524a..ccbe3f10f 100644
--- a/docs/src/network-definition-spec.md
+++ b/docs/src/network-definition-spec.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ The network config can be provided both in `json` or `toml` format and each sect
 - `random_nominators_count`: (number, optional), if is set _and the stacking pallet is enabled_ zombienet will generate `x` nominators and will be injected in the genesis.
 - `max_nominations`: (number, default 24), the max allowed number of nominations by a nominator. This should match the value set in the runtime (e.g Kusama is 24 and Polkadot 16).
 - `nodes`:
-  - `*name`: (String) Name of the node.
+  - `*name`: (String) Name of the node. *Note*: Any whitespace in the name will be replaced with a dash (e.g 'new alice' -> 'new-alice').
   - `image`: (String) Override default docker image to use for this node.
   - `command`: (String) Override default command.
   - `command_with_args`: (String) Override default command and args.
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ The network config can be provided both in `json` or `toml` format and each sect
   - `prometheus_prefix`: A parameter for customizing the metric's prefix for the specific node. Will apply only to this node; Defaults to 'substrate'.
   - `keystore_key_types`: Defines which keystore keys should be created, for more details checkout details below.
 - `node_groups`:
-  - `*name`: (String) Group name, used for naming the nodes (e.g name-1)
+  - `*name`: (String) Group name, used for naming the nodes (e.g name-1) *Note*: Any whitespace in the name will be replaced with a dash (e.g 'new group' -> 'new-group').
   - `*count` (Number), Number of `nodes` to launch for this group.
   - `image`: (String) Override default docker image to use for this node.
   - `command`: (String) Override default command.
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ The network config can be provided both in `json` or `toml` format and each sect
   - `prometheus_prefix`: A parameter for customizing the metric's prefix for the specific node. Will apply only to all parachain nodes/collators; Defaults to 'substrate'.
   - `collator`:
 
-    - `*name`: (String) Name of the collator.
+    - `*name`: (String) Name of the collator. *Note*: Any whitespace in the name will be replaced with a dash (e.g 'new alice' -> 'new-alice').
     - `image`: (String) Image to use.
     - `command`: (String, default `polkadot-parachain`) Command to run.
     - `args`: (Array of strings) An array of arguments to use as default to pass to the `command`.
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ The network config can be provided both in `json` or `toml` format and each sect
 
   - `collator_groups`:
 
-    - `*name`: (String) Name of the collator.
+    - `*name`: (String) Name of the collator. *Note*: Any whitespace in the name will be replaced with a dash (e.g 'new alice' -> 'new-alice').
     - `*count`: (Number) Number of `collators` to launch for this group.
     - `image`: (String) Image to use.
     - `command`: (String, default `polkadot-parachain`) Command to run.
diff --git a/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/configGenerator.ts b/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/configGenerator.ts
index f4067a8d5..fc8720562 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/configGenerator.ts
+++ b/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/configGenerator.ts
@@ -205,7 +205,9 @@ export async function generateNetworkSpec(
   for (const nodeGroup of config.relaychain.node_groups || []) {
     for (let i = 0; i < (nodeGroup.count as number); i++) {
       const node: NodeConfig = {
-        name: `${nodeGroup.name}-${i}`,
+        // Replace whitespaces with dashes for node names
+        // see https://github.com/paritytech/zombienet/issues/1659
+        name: `${nodeGroup.name.replaceAll(" ", "-")}-${i}`,
         image: nodeGroup.image || networkSpec.relaychain.defaultImage,
         command: nodeGroup.command,
         args: sanitizeArgs(nodeGroup.args || []),
@@ -289,7 +291,9 @@ export async function generateNetworkSpec(
       for (const collatorGroup of parachain.collator_groups || []) {
         for (let i = 0; i < (collatorGroup.count as number); i++) {
           const node: NodeConfig = {
-            name: `${collatorGroup.name}-${i}`,
+            // Replace whitespaces with dashes for node names
+            // see https://github.com/paritytech/zombienet/issues/1659
+            name: `${collatorGroup.name.replaceAll(" ", "-")}-${i}`,
             image: collatorGroup.image || DEFAULT_COLLATOR_IMAGE,
             command: collatorGroup.command || DEFAULT_CUMULUS_COLLATOR_BIN,
             args: sanitizeArgs(collatorGroup.args || [], { "listen-addr": 2 }),
@@ -502,6 +506,10 @@ interface UsedNames {
 const mUsedNames: UsedNames = {};
 
 export function getUniqueName(name: string): string {
+  // Transform whitespaces to dashes in name, since
+  // whitespaces in names are not supported
+  // see https://github.com/paritytech/zombienet/issues/1659
+  name = name.replaceAll(" ", "-");
   let uniqueName;
   if (!mUsedNames[name]) {
     mUsedNames[name] = 1;
diff --git a/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.toml b/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.toml
index 116a99403..7653de485 100644
--- a/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.toml
+++ b/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ command = "polkadot"
   name = "alice"
 
   [[relaychain.nodes]]
-  name = "bob"
+  name = "new bob"
 
   [[relaychain.nodes]]
   name = "charlie"
diff --git a/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.zndsl b/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.zndsl
index f7d0383f5..a973e1500 100644
--- a/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.zndsl
+++ b/tests/smoke/0001-smoke.zndsl
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Network: ./0001-smoke.toml
 Creds: config
 
 alice: is up
-bob: is up
+new-bob: is up
 
 alice: reports block height is at least 4 within 200 seconds