diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Content.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Content.cs
index 39c4610cd8..6de1a9d909 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Content.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Content.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
         private DateTime? _expireDate;
         private Dictionary<int, string> _publishNames;
 
-        private static readonly Dictionary<int, string> NoPublishNames = new Dictionary<int, string>();
         private static readonly Lazy<PropertySelectors> Ps = new Lazy<PropertySelectors>();
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -201,7 +200,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         [IgnoreDataMember]
-        public IReadOnlyDictionary<int, string> PublishNames => _publishNames ?? NoPublishNames;
+        public IReadOnlyDictionary<int, string> PublishNames => _publishNames ?? NoNames;
 
         /// <inheritdoc/>
         public string GetPublishName(int? languageId)
@@ -238,6 +237,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
                 return;
             }
 
+            if (_publishNames == null) return;
             _publishNames.Remove(languageId.Value);
             if (_publishNames.Count == 0)
                 _publishNames = null;
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ContentBase.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ContentBase.cs
index 8ecc7f0039..9b6414e4c8 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ContentBase.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ContentBase.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
     [DebuggerDisplay("Id: {Id}, Name: {Name}, ContentType: {ContentTypeBase.Alias}")]
     public abstract class ContentBase : TreeEntityBase, IContentBase
     {
+        protected static readonly Dictionary<int, string> NoNames = new Dictionary<int, string>();
         private static readonly Lazy<PropertySelectors> Ps = new Lazy<PropertySelectors>();
 
         private int _contentTypeId;
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
         [DataMember]
         public virtual IReadOnlyDictionary<int, string> Names
         {
-            get => _names;
+            get => _names ?? NoNames;
             set
             {
                 foreach (var (languageId, name) in value)