diff --git a/jupyterhub/user.py b/jupyterhub/user.py
index 333175bb..e7f6b451 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/user.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/user.py
@@ -350,6 +350,11 @@ class User:
         """My name, escaped for use in URLs, cookies, etc."""
         return quote(self.name, safe='@~')
 
+    @property
+    def unicode_escaped_name(self):
+        """My name, escaped for use in javascript inserts, etc."""
+        return self.name.decode('unicode_escape')
+
     @property
     def proxy_spec(self):
         """The proxy routespec for my default server"""
diff --git a/share/jupyterhub/templates/page.html b/share/jupyterhub/templates/page.html
index 3d9973e7..c641c1c4 100644
--- a/share/jupyterhub/templates/page.html
+++ b/share/jupyterhub/templates/page.html
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
         base_url: "{{base_url}}",
         prefix: "{{prefix}}",
         {% if user %}
-        user: "{{json_encode(user.name)}}",
+        user: "{{user.unicode_escaped_name}}",
         {% endif %}
         {% if admin_access %}
         admin_access: true,