diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 6f28d09..fa12574 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -429,10 +429,25 @@ def get_total_expense_for_list(list_id, start_date=None, end_date=None):
 
 
 def update_list_categories_from_form(shopping_list, form):
-    category_ids = form.getlist("categories")
+    raw_vals = form.getlist("categories") 
+    candidate_ids = set()
+
+    for v in raw_vals:
+        if not v:
+            continue
+        v = v.strip()
+        try:
+            candidate_ids.add(int(v))
+            continue
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+
+        cat = Category.query.filter(func.lower(Category.name) == v.lower()).first()
+        if cat:
+            candidate_ids.add(cat.id)
     shopping_list.categories.clear()
-    if category_ids:
-        cats = Category.query.filter(Category.id.in_(category_ids)).all()
+    if candidate_ids:
+        cats = Category.query.filter(Category.id.in_(candidate_ids)).all()
         shopping_list.categories.extend(cats)