diff --git a/biome.jsonc b/biome.jsonc
index 759dea75009..8bd2f504da6 100644
--- a/biome.jsonc
+++ b/biome.jsonc
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@
             "!package-lock.json"
         ]
     },
+    "overrides": [
+        {
+            "includes": ["**/test/declarative/fixtures/**/*.html"],
+            "html": {
+                "formatter": {
+                    "enabled": false
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    ],
     "html": {
         "formatter": {
             "enabled": true
diff --git a/change/@microsoft-fast-element-c74392ec-7a62-4196-a74d-78d3cb1ce61c.json b/change/@microsoft-fast-element-c74392ec-7a62-4196-a74d-78d3cb1ce61c.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..48c43856e63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/change/@microsoft-fast-element-c74392ec-7a62-4196-a74d-78d3cb1ce61c.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "type": "none",
+  "comment": "Allow duplicate f-template names to keep the first template assignment",
+  "packageName": "@microsoft/fast-element",
+  "email": "7559015+janechu@users.noreply.github.com",
+  "dependentChangeType": "none"
+}
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md b/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
index 752c5f110e5..72fd31aaf19 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
@@ -350,7 +350,9 @@ the imperative `html` API:
 
 - The internal `<f-template>` publisher parses HTML and returns concrete
   `ViewTemplate` instances through the registry-aware declarative template
-  bridge.
+  bridge. If duplicate connected publishers share a name, the first connected
+  publisher supplies the definition template and later duplicates do not
+  reassign it.
 - `TemplateParser` lowers declarative syntax to the same `strings` / `values`
   shape used by `ViewTemplate.create()`.
 - `attributeMap()` and `observerMap()` are `FASTElementExtension` factories
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/README.md b/packages/fast-element/README.md
index 6d4a720f3ee..1147337af26 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/README.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/README.md
@@ -136,8 +136,10 @@ MyElement.define({
 `declarativeTemplate()` automatically defines FAST's internal native
 `<f-template>` publisher in the relevant registry, resolves the matching
 `<f-template name="my-element">`, and keeps the definition template concrete
-before `define()` resolves. Consumers should not import or define the
-`<f-template>` implementation directly.
+before `define()` resolves. If multiple matching `<f-template>` elements are
+connected, the first connected element supplies the template and later duplicates
+do not reassign it. Consumers should not import or define the `<f-template>`
+implementation directly.
 
 Declarative schema behavior is enabled with define extensions:
 
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md b/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
index e6ac7937aa9..67ec54c7e12 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Bundle sizes for `@microsoft/fast-element` exports.
 | repeat (@microsoft/fast-element/repeat.js) | 29.57 KB | 9.41 KB | 8.48 KB |
 | css (@microsoft/fast-element/css.js) | 2.43 KB | 1.00 KB | 911 B |
 | enableHydration (@microsoft/fast-element/hydration.js) | 43.27 KB | 13.19 KB | 11.88 KB |
-| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.77 KB | 18.45 KB | 16.46 KB |
+| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.39 KB | 18.35 KB | 16.38 KB |
 | ArrayObserver (@microsoft/fast-element/array-observer.js) | 12.51 KB | 4.45 KB | 4.01 KB |
 | observerMap (@microsoft/fast-element/observer-map.js) | 20.41 KB | 7.24 KB | 6.52 KB |
 | attributeMap (@microsoft/fast-element/attribute-map.js) | 15.78 KB | 5.58 KB | 5.04 KB |
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/docs/declarative-design.md b/packages/fast-element/docs/declarative-design.md
index 021e6d30591..8b75a63fb4f 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/docs/declarative-design.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/docs/declarative-design.md
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ When connected to the DOM it:
 4. Runs definition-scoped schema transforms, such as `attributeMap()` and
    `observerMap()`, before returning the concrete `ViewTemplate`.
 
+When multiple connected `<f-template>` publishers share the same `name`, the
+bridge resolves pending definitions from the first connected publisher and keeps
+the resolved template stable. Later duplicate publishers do not reassign the
+definition template.
+
 ### `TemplateParser` — declarative HTML parser
 
 A standalone class that converts declarative HTML template markup into the
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/debug.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/debug.ts
index 75602b9469b..87140bcaae2 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/debug.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/debug.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,4 @@ export const debugMessages = {
         "The first child of the <f-template> must be a <template>, this is missing from ${name}.",
     [2001 /* moreThanOneTemplateProvided */]:
         "There can only be one <template> inside the <f-template>; remove any extra <template> elements and keep exactly one for ${name}.",
-    [2002 /* moreThanOneMatchingTemplateProvided */]:
-        'There can only be one connected <f-template name="${name}"> in a registry while resolving a declarative template; remove duplicate matches for ${name}.',
 };
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/interfaces.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/interfaces.ts
index 632c4f2999b..7780ea9f068 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/interfaces.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/interfaces.ts
@@ -5,5 +5,4 @@
 export const enum Message {
     noTemplateProvided = 2000,
     moreThanOneTemplateProvided = 2001,
-    moreThanOneMatchingTemplateProvided = 2002,
 }
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.pw.spec.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.pw.spec.ts
index 40a07193d9f..6320844a00c 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.pw.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.pw.spec.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,32 @@ test.describe("DeclarativeTemplateBridge", () => {
         expect(await requestB).toBe(templateB);
     });
 
+    test("keeps the first publisher when duplicate publishers share a name", async () => {
+        const bridge = new DeclarativeTemplateBridge();
+        const registry = {
+            define() {},
+            get() {
+                return void 0;
+            },
+        } as unknown as CustomElementRegistry;
+        const firstTemplate = { id: "first" } as any;
+        const secondTemplate = { id: "second" } as any;
+
+        const request = bridge.requestTemplate({
+            name: "test-element",
+            registry,
+        } as any);
+
+        bridge.registerPublisher(registry, "test-element", {
+            publishTemplate: async () => firstTemplate,
+        });
+        bridge.registerPublisher(registry, "test-element", {
+            publishTemplate: async () => secondTemplate,
+        });
+
+        expect(await request).toBe(firstTemplate);
+    });
+
     test("requeues active requests when a publisher disconnects", async () => {
         const bridge = new DeclarativeTemplateBridge();
         const registry = {
@@ -656,35 +682,96 @@ test.describe("declarativeTemplate", () => {
         expect(result.shadowText).toContain("reconnected");
     });
 
-    test("rejects duplicate matching templates with a clear error", async ({ page }) => {
+    test("does not reassign a resolved template for duplicate f-template names", async ({
+        page,
+    }) => {
+        const pageErrors: string[] = [];
+        page.on("pageerror", error => {
+            pageErrors.push(error.message);
+        });
+
         await page.goto("/");
 
-        const message = await page.evaluate(async () => {
+        const result = await page.evaluate(async () => {
+            const errors: string[] = [];
+            window.addEventListener("error", event => {
+                errors.push(event.message);
+            });
+            window.addEventListener("unhandledrejection", event => {
+                errors.push(event.reason?.message ?? String(event.reason));
+            });
+
             // @ts-expect-error: Client module.
-            const { FASTElement, declarativeTemplate, uniqueElementName } = await import(
-                "/declarative-main.js"
-            );
+            const {
+                FASTElement,
+                FASTElementDefinition,
+                declarativeTemplate,
+                uniqueElementName,
+            } = await import("/declarative-main.js");
 
             const elementName = uniqueElementName();
 
             document.body.insertAdjacentHTML(
                 "beforeend",
-                `<f-template name="${elementName}"><template><span>first</span></template></f-template><f-template name="${elementName}"><template><span>second</span></template></f-template>`,
+                `<f-template name="${elementName}"><template><span class="label">first {{label}}</span></template></f-template><f-template name="${elementName}"><template><span class="label">second {{label}}</span></template></f-template>`,
             );
 
-            class TestElement extends FASTElement {}
+            class TestElement extends FASTElement {
+                public label = "initial";
+            }
+
+            let defineError = "";
 
             try {
                 await TestElement.define({
                     name: elementName,
                     template: declarativeTemplate(),
                 });
-                return "";
             } catch (error) {
-                return (error as Error).message;
+                defineError = (error as Error).message;
+                return {
+                    defineError,
+                    errors,
+                    firstText: "",
+                    secondText: "",
+                    templateStable: false,
+                };
             }
+
+            const definition = FASTElementDefinition.getByType(TestElement) as any;
+            const resolvedTemplate = definition.template;
+            const firstElement = document.createElement(elementName) as any;
+            document.body.appendChild(firstElement);
+            await new Promise(resolve => requestAnimationFrame(resolve));
+
+            const duplicateTemplate = document.createElement("f-template");
+            duplicateTemplate.setAttribute("name", elementName);
+            duplicateTemplate.innerHTML =
+                '<template><span class="label">third {{label}}</span></template>';
+            document.body.appendChild(duplicateTemplate);
+            await new Promise(resolve => requestAnimationFrame(resolve));
+
+            const secondElement = document.createElement(elementName) as any;
+            secondElement.label = "later";
+            document.body.appendChild(secondElement);
+            await new Promise(resolve => requestAnimationFrame(resolve));
+
+            return {
+                defineError,
+                errors,
+                firstText:
+                    firstElement.shadowRoot?.querySelector(".label")?.textContent ?? "",
+                secondText:
+                    secondElement.shadowRoot?.querySelector(".label")?.textContent ?? "",
+                templateStable: definition.template === resolvedTemplate,
+            };
         });
 
-        expect(message).toContain("There can only be one connected <f-template");
+        expect(result.defineError).toBe("");
+        expect(result.errors).toEqual([]);
+        expect(pageErrors).toEqual([]);
+        expect(result.templateStable).toBe(true);
+        expect(result.firstText).toBe("first initial");
+        expect(result.secondText).toBe("first later");
     });
 });
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.ts
index cb3d87dc8ee..534eab5cf56 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/declarative/template-bridge.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import type { FASTElementDefinition } from "../components/fast-definitions.js";
-import { FAST } from "../platform.js";
 import type { ElementViewTemplate } from "../templating/template.js";
-import { Message } from "./interfaces.js";
 
 /**
  * Publishes a concrete template for a definition.
@@ -141,26 +139,14 @@ export class DeclarativeTemplateBridge {
             return;
         }
 
-        const publishers = [...bucket.publishers];
-
-        if (publishers.length > 1) {
-            const error = FAST.error(Message.moreThanOneMatchingTemplateProvided, {
-                name,
-            });
-
-            for (const request of [...bucket.requests]) {
-                this.rejectRequest(registry, name, bucket, request, error);
-            }
+        // Set iteration preserves insertion order, so duplicate publishers leave
+        // the first connected publisher responsible for pending requests.
+        const publisher = bucket.publishers.values().next().value;
 
+        if (publisher === undefined) {
             return;
         }
 
-        if (publishers.length === 0) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        const [publisher] = publishers;
-
         for (const request of bucket.requests) {
             if (request.settled) {
                 continue;
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/README.md b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/README.md
index 081e93e679b..9f395237018 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/README.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/README.md
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ Fixtures for complex scenarios that may involve multiple features interacting to
 
 | Fixture | Description |
 |---|---|
+| `duplicate-template-names` | Duplicate connected `<f-template>` publishers with the same `name` attribute keep the first template assignment for a simple bound element. |
 | `nested-elements` | Nested custom elements with state propagation through shadow boundaries, event handling inside `f-repeat` with `$c.parent` context access, and `f-when` conditions within repeated content. |
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/duplicate-template-names.spec.ts b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/duplicate-template-names.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f8aeb2d5551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/duplicate-template-names.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { expect, test } from "@playwright/test";
+
+test.describe("duplicate f-template names", () => {
+    test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
+        await page.addInitScript(() => {
+            (window as any).__duplicateTemplateErrors = [];
+            window.addEventListener("error", event => {
+                (window as any).__duplicateTemplateErrors.push(event.message);
+            });
+            window.addEventListener("unhandledrejection", event => {
+                event.preventDefault();
+                (window as any).__duplicateTemplateErrors.push(
+                    event.reason?.message ?? String(event.reason),
+                );
+            });
+        });
+    });
+
+    test("keeps the first template assignment without errors", async ({ page }) => {
+        const hydrationCompleted = page.waitForFunction(
+            () => (window as any).hydrationCompleted === true,
+        );
+        await page.goto("/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/");
+        await hydrationCompleted;
+
+        const customElement = page.locator("duplicate-template-element");
+
+        await expect(customElement).toHaveText("initial");
+
+        await page.evaluate(() => {
+            document
+                .querySelector("duplicate-template-element")
+                ?.setAttribute("label", "updated");
+        });
+
+        await expect(customElement).toHaveText("updated");
+
+        const result = await page.evaluate(() => ({
+            errors: (window as any).__duplicateTemplateErrors,
+            status: (window as any).__duplicateTemplateStatus,
+        }));
+
+        expect(result.errors).toEqual([]);
+        expect(result.status).toEqual({
+            templateDidUpdateCount: 1,
+            templateWillUpdateCount: 1,
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/entry.html b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/entry.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8e0ac2b9f9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/entry.html
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en-US">
+    <head>
+        <meta charset="utf-8">
+        <title></title>
+    </head>
+    <body>
+        <duplicate-template-element label="{{label}}"></duplicate-template-element>
+        <script type="module" src="./main.ts"></script>
+    </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/fast-build.config.json b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/fast-build.config.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c291972cdad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/fast-build.config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+    "entry": "entry.html",
+    "state": "state.json",
+    "output": "index.html",
+    "templates": "templates.html"
+}
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/index.html b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..397f92d99e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en-US">
+    <head>
+        <meta charset="utf-8">
+        <title></title>
+    </head>
+    <body>
+        <duplicate-template-element label="initial"><template shadowrootmode="open" shadowroot="open"><span><!--fe:b-->initial<!--fe:/b--></span></template></duplicate-template-element>
+<f-template name="duplicate-template-element">
+    <template><span>{{label}}</span></template>
+</f-template>
+<f-template name="duplicate-template-element">
+    <template><span>{{label}}</span></template>
+</f-template>
+
+        <script type="module" src="./main.ts"></script>
+    </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/main.ts b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/main.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..401d45aa336
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/main.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { attr } from "@microsoft/fast-element/attr.js";
+import { declarativeTemplate } from "@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js";
+import { FASTElement } from "@microsoft/fast-element/fast-element.js";
+import { enableHydration } from "@microsoft/fast-element/hydration.js";
+
+const status = {
+    templateDidUpdateCount: 0,
+    templateWillUpdateCount: 0,
+};
+
+(window as any).__duplicateTemplateStatus = status;
+
+class DuplicateTemplateElement extends FASTElement {
+    @attr
+    public label: string = "";
+}
+
+DuplicateTemplateElement.define({
+    name: "duplicate-template-element",
+    template: declarativeTemplate({
+        templateDidUpdate() {
+            status.templateDidUpdateCount++;
+        },
+        templateWillUpdate() {
+            status.templateWillUpdateCount++;
+        },
+    }),
+});
+
+enableHydration({
+    hydrationComplete() {
+        (window as any).hydrationCompleted = true;
+    },
+});
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/state.json b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/state.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3b65608ce57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/state.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "label": "initial"
+}
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/templates.html b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/templates.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0849e9699a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/fast-element/test/declarative/fixtures/scenarios/duplicate-template-names/templates.html
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<f-template name="duplicate-template-element">
+    <template><span>{{label}}</span></template>
+</f-template>
+<f-template name="duplicate-template-element">
+    <template><span>{{label}}</span></template>
+</f-template>
diff --git a/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/export-sizes.md b/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/export-sizes.md
index 2325b5bf688..2efdc5e831c 100644
--- a/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/export-sizes.md
+++ b/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/export-sizes.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Bundle sizes for `@microsoft/fast-element` exports.
 | repeat (@microsoft/fast-element/repeat.js) | 29.57 KB | 9.41 KB | 8.48 KB |
 | css (@microsoft/fast-element/css.js) | 2.43 KB | 1.00 KB | 911 B |
 | enableHydration (@microsoft/fast-element/hydration.js) | 43.27 KB | 13.19 KB | 11.88 KB |
-| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.77 KB | 18.45 KB | 16.46 KB |
+| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.39 KB | 18.35 KB | 16.38 KB |
 | ArrayObserver (@microsoft/fast-element/array-observer.js) | 12.51 KB | 4.45 KB | 4.01 KB |
 | observerMap (@microsoft/fast-element/observer-map.js) | 20.41 KB | 7.24 KB | 6.52 KB |
 | attributeMap (@microsoft/fast-element/attribute-map.js) | 15.78 KB | 5.58 KB | 5.04 KB |