diff --git a/validator.py b/validator.py
index 5ef21ab..98a341c 100644
--- a/validator.py
+++ b/validator.py
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ def validate_name(value):
-    if len(value) > 80:
+    value = value.strip()
+    if not value:
+        raise ValueError("name is required")
+    if len(value) > 80:
         raise ValueError("name is too long")
     return value