diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index 33b8fd6c7f..0be087b52d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ message ListEntitiesSelectResponse {
   reserved 4; // Deprecated: was string unique_id
 
   string icon = 5 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_ENTITY_ICON"];
-  repeated string options = 6 [(container_pointer) = "std::vector"];
+  repeated string options = 6 [(container_pointer_no_template) = "FixedVector<const char *>"];
   bool disabled_by_default = 7;
   EntityCategory entity_category = 8;
   uint32 device_id = 9 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_DEVICES"];
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 37bcf5d8a0..3472707d3c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -1475,8 +1475,8 @@ void ListEntitiesSelectResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const {
 #ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   buffer.encode_string(5, this->icon_ref_);
 #endif
-  for (const auto &it : *this->options) {
-    buffer.encode_string(6, it, true);
+  for (const char *it : *this->options) {
+    buffer.encode_string(6, it, strlen(it), true);
   }
   buffer.encode_bool(7, this->disabled_by_default);
   buffer.encode_uint32(8, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->entity_category));
@@ -1492,8 +1492,8 @@ void ListEntitiesSelectResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const {
   size.add_length(1, this->icon_ref_.size());
 #endif
   if (!this->options->empty()) {
-    for (const auto &it : *this->options) {
-      size.add_length_force(1, it.size());
+    for (const char *it : *this->options) {
+      size.add_length_force(1, strlen(it));
     }
   }
   size.add_bool(1, this->disabled_by_default);
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index db85629dba..43018ef32c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -1534,7 +1534,7 @@ class ListEntitiesSelectResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
   const char *message_name() const override { return "list_entities_select_response"; }
 #endif
-  const std::vector<std::string> *options{};
+  const FixedVector<const char *> *options{};
   void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
   void calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const override;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
index e803125f53..d94ceaaa9c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, StringRef value
   out.append("\n");
 }
 
+static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, const char *value, int indent = 2) {
+  append_field_prefix(out, field_name, indent);
+  out.append("'").append(value).append("'");
+  out.append("\n");
+}
+
 template<typename T> static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, T value, int indent = 2) {
   append_field_prefix(out, field_name, indent);
   out.append(proto_enum_to_string<T>(value));
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
index 3ae67e8a0b..d3dc8fac5a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/lvgl_esphome.h
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ class LvSelectable : public LvCompound {
   virtual void set_selected_index(size_t index, lv_anim_enable_t anim) = 0;
   void set_selected_text(const std::string &text, lv_anim_enable_t anim);
   std::string get_selected_text();
-  std::vector<std::string> get_options() { return this->options_; }
+  const std::vector<std::string> &get_options() { return this->options_; }
   void set_options(std::vector<std::string> options);
 
  protected:
diff --git a/esphome/components/lvgl/select/lvgl_select.h b/esphome/components/lvgl/select/lvgl_select.h
index a0e60295a6..3b1fd67d68 100644
--- a/esphome/components/lvgl/select/lvgl_select.h
+++ b/esphome/components/lvgl/select/lvgl_select.h
@@ -53,7 +53,17 @@ class LVGLSelect : public select::Select, public Component {
     this->widget_->set_selected_text(value, this->anim_);
     this->publish();
   }
-  void set_options_() { this->traits.set_options(this->widget_->get_options()); }
+  void set_options_() {
+    // Widget uses std::vector<std::string>, SelectTraits uses FixedVector<const char*>
+    // Convert by extracting c_str() pointers
+    const auto &opts = this->widget_->get_options();
+    FixedVector<const char *> opt_ptrs;
+    opt_ptrs.init(opts.size());
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < opts.size(); i++) {
+      opt_ptrs[i] = opts[i].c_str();
+    }
+    this->traits.set_options(opt_ptrs);
+  }
 
   LvSelectable *widget_;
   lv_anim_enable_t anim_;
diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
index 56b8c783ed..4d4b5a4ffc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void ModbusSelect::parse_and_publish(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
 
     if (map_it != this->mapping_.cend()) {
       size_t idx = std::distance(this->mapping_.cbegin(), map_it);
-      new_state = this->traits.get_options()[idx];
+      new_state = std::string(this->traits.get_options()[idx]);
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Found option %s for value %lld", new_state->c_str(), value);
     } else {
       ESP_LOGE(TAG, "No option found for mapping %lld", value);
@@ -41,10 +41,12 @@ void ModbusSelect::parse_and_publish(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
 }
 
 void ModbusSelect::control(const std::string &value) {
-  auto options = this->traits.get_options();
-  auto opt_it = std::find(options.cbegin(), options.cend(), value);
-  size_t idx = std::distance(options.cbegin(), opt_it);
-  optional<int64_t> mapval = this->mapping_[idx];
+  auto idx = this->index_of(value);
+  if (!idx.has_value()) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Invalid option '%s'", value.c_str());
+    return;
+  }
+  optional<int64_t> mapval = this->mapping_[idx.value()];
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Found value %lld for option '%s'", *mapval, value.c_str());
 
   std::vector<uint16_t> data;
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
index 16e8288ca1..66cd51e15a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "select.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include <cstring>
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace select {
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ size_t Select::size() const {
 optional<size_t> Select::index_of(const std::string &option) const {
   const auto &options = traits.get_options();
   for (size_t i = 0; i < options.size(); i++) {
-    if (options[i] == option) {
+    if (strcmp(options[i], option.c_str()) == 0) {
       return i;
     }
   }
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ optional<size_t> Select::active_index() const {
 optional<std::string> Select::at(size_t index) const {
   if (this->has_index(index)) {
     const auto &options = traits.get_options();
-    return options.at(index);
+    return std::string(options.at(index));
   } else {
     return {};
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
index a8cd4290c8..dc849b8b7e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
@@ -3,9 +3,16 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace select {
 
-void SelectTraits::set_options(std::vector<std::string> options) { this->options_ = std::move(options); }
+void SelectTraits::set_options(std::initializer_list<const char *> options) { this->options_ = options; }
 
-const std::vector<std::string> &SelectTraits::get_options() const { return this->options_; }
+void SelectTraits::set_options(const FixedVector<const char *> &options) {
+  this->options_.init(options.size());
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < options.size(); i++) {
+    this->options_[i] = options[i];
+  }
+}
+
+const FixedVector<const char *> &SelectTraits::get_options() const { return this->options_; }
 
 }  // namespace select
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
index 128066dd6b..b504f08298 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <vector>
-#include <string>
+#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+#include <initializer_list>
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace select {
 
 class SelectTraits {
  public:
-  void set_options(std::vector<std::string> options);
-  const std::vector<std::string> &get_options() const;
+  void set_options(std::initializer_list<const char *> options);
+  void set_options(const FixedVector<const char *> &options);
+  const FixedVector<const char *> &get_options() const;
 
  protected:
-  std::vector<std::string> options_;
+  FixedVector<const char *> options_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace select
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp b/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
index 95b0ee0d2b..7f7aa2c43f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ void TemplateSelect::setup() {
       ESP_LOGD(TAG, "State from initial (could not load stored index): %s", value.c_str());
     } else if (!this->has_index(index)) {
       value = this->initial_option_;
-      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "State from initial (restored index %d out of bounds): %s", index, value.c_str());
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "State from initial (restored index %zu out of bounds): %s", index, value.c_str());
     } else {
       value = this->at(index).value();
       ESP_LOGD(TAG, "State from restore: %s", value.c_str());
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
index 91ddbc77ec..d9dc532771 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ void TuyaSelect::setup() {
   this->parent_->register_listener(this->select_id_, [this](const TuyaDatapoint &datapoint) {
     uint8_t enum_value = datapoint.value_enum;
     ESP_LOGV(TAG, "MCU reported select %u value %u", this->select_id_, enum_value);
-    auto options = this->traits.get_options();
+    const auto &options = this->traits.get_options();
     auto mappings = this->mappings_;
     auto it = std::find(mappings.cbegin(), mappings.cend(), enum_value);
     if (it == mappings.end()) {
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ void TuyaSelect::dump_config() {
                 "  Data type: %s\n"
                 "  Options are:",
                 this->select_id_, this->is_int_ ? "int" : "enum");
-  auto options = this->traits.get_options();
+  const auto &options = this->traits.get_options();
   for (size_t i = 0; i < this->mappings_.size(); i++) {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "    %i: %s", this->mappings_.at(i), options.at(i).c_str());
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "    %i: %s", this->mappings_.at(i), options.at(i));
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index e542805a8d..38ed2158ab 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -307,6 +307,11 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     return data_[size_ - 1];
   }
 
+  /// Access first element (no bounds checking - matches std::vector behavior)
+  /// Caller must ensure vector is not empty (size() > 0)
+  T &front() { return data_[0]; }
+  const T &front() const { return data_[0]; }
+
   /// Access last element (no bounds checking - matches std::vector behavior)
   /// Caller must ensure vector is not empty (size() > 0)
   T &back() { return data_[size_ - 1]; }
@@ -320,6 +325,11 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
   T &operator[](size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
   const T &operator[](size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
 
+  /// Access element with bounds checking (matches std::vector behavior)
+  /// Note: No exception thrown on out of bounds - caller must ensure index is valid
+  T &at(size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
+  const T &at(size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
+
   // Iterator support for range-based for loops
   T *begin() { return data_; }
   T *end() { return data_ + size_; }
diff --git a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
index 2f83b0bd79..394e92b9a7 100755
--- a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
+++ b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
@@ -1162,7 +1162,11 @@ class SInt64Type(TypeInfo):
 
 
 def _generate_array_dump_content(
-    ti, field_name: str, name: str, is_bool: bool = False
+    ti,
+    field_name: str,
+    name: str,
+    is_bool: bool = False,
+    is_const_char_ptr: bool = False,
 ) -> str:
     """Generate dump content for array types (repeated or fixed array).
 
@@ -1170,7 +1174,10 @@ def _generate_array_dump_content(
     """
     o = f"for (const auto {'' if is_bool else '&'}it : {field_name}) {{\n"
     # Check if underlying type can use dump_field
-    if ti.can_use_dump_field():
+    if is_const_char_ptr:
+        # Special case for const char* - use it directly
+        o += f'  dump_field(out, "{name}", it, 4);\n'
+    elif ti.can_use_dump_field():
         # For types that have dump_field overloads, use them with extra indent
         # std::vector<bool> iterators return proxy objects, need explicit cast
         value_expr = "static_cast<bool>(it)" if is_bool else ti.dump_field_value("it")
@@ -1533,11 +1540,16 @@ class RepeatedTypeInfo(TypeInfo):
     def encode_content(self) -> str:
         if self._use_pointer:
             # For pointer fields, just dereference (pointer should never be null in our use case)
-            o = f"for (const auto &it : *this->{self.field_name}) {{\n"
-            if isinstance(self._ti, EnumType):
-                o += f"  buffer.{self._ti.encode_func}({self.number}, static_cast<uint32_t>(it), true);\n"
+            # Special handling for const char* elements (when container_no_template contains "const char")
+            if "const char" in self._container_no_template:
+                o = f"for (const char *it : *this->{self.field_name}) {{\n"
+                o += f"  buffer.{self._ti.encode_func}({self.number}, it, strlen(it), true);\n"
             else:
-                o += f"  buffer.{self._ti.encode_func}({self.number}, it, true);\n"
+                o = f"for (const auto &it : *this->{self.field_name}) {{\n"
+                if isinstance(self._ti, EnumType):
+                    o += f"  buffer.{self._ti.encode_func}({self.number}, static_cast<uint32_t>(it), true);\n"
+                else:
+                    o += f"  buffer.{self._ti.encode_func}({self.number}, it, true);\n"
             o += "}"
             return o
         o = f"for (auto {'' if self._ti_is_bool else '&'}it : this->{self.field_name}) {{\n"
@@ -1550,10 +1562,18 @@ class RepeatedTypeInfo(TypeInfo):
 
     @property
     def dump_content(self) -> str:
+        # Check if this is const char* elements
+        is_const_char_ptr = (
+            self._use_pointer and "const char" in self._container_no_template
+        )
         if self._use_pointer:
             # For pointer fields, dereference and use the existing helper
             return _generate_array_dump_content(
-                self._ti, f"*this->{self.field_name}", self.name, is_bool=False
+                self._ti,
+                f"*this->{self.field_name}",
+                self.name,
+                is_bool=False,
+                is_const_char_ptr=is_const_char_ptr,
             )
         return _generate_array_dump_content(
             self._ti, f"this->{self.field_name}", self.name, is_bool=self._ti_is_bool
@@ -1588,9 +1608,14 @@ class RepeatedTypeInfo(TypeInfo):
             o += f"  size.add_precalculated_size({size_expr} * {bytes_per_element});\n"
         else:
             # Other types need the actual value
-            auto_ref = "" if self._ti_is_bool else "&"
-            o += f"  for (const auto {auto_ref}it : {container_ref}) {{\n"
-            o += f"    {self._ti.get_size_calculation('it', True)}\n"
+            # Special handling for const char* elements
+            if self._use_pointer and "const char" in self._container_no_template:
+                o += f"  for (const char *it : {container_ref}) {{\n"
+                o += "    size.add_length_force(1, strlen(it));\n"
+            else:
+                auto_ref = "" if self._ti_is_bool else "&"
+                o += f"  for (const auto {auto_ref}it : {container_ref}) {{\n"
+                o += f"    {self._ti.get_size_calculation('it', True)}\n"
             o += "  }\n"
 
         o += "}"
@@ -2542,6 +2567,12 @@ static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, StringRef value
   out.append("\\n");
 }
 
+static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, const char *value, int indent = 2) {
+  append_field_prefix(out, field_name, indent);
+  out.append("'").append(value).append("'");
+  out.append("\\n");
+}
+
 template<typename T>
 static void dump_field(std::string &out, const char *field_name, T value, int indent = 2) {
   append_field_prefix(out, field_name, indent);