diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index afdaa0b6e8..352081fe31 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -2014,8 +2014,8 @@ void WiFiComponent::release_scan_results_() {
     // std::vector - use swap trick since shrink_to_fit is non-binding
     decltype(this->scan_result_)().swap(this->scan_result_);
 #else
-    // FixedVector::shrink_to_fit() actually frees all memory
-    this->scan_result_.shrink_to_fit();
+    // FixedVector::release() frees all memory
+    this->scan_result_.release();
 #endif
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index acba420d3e..05d2d475c1 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     size_ = 0;
   }
 
-  // Shrink capacity to fit current size (frees all memory)
-  void shrink_to_fit() {
+  // Release all memory (destroys elements and frees memory)
+  void release() {
     cleanup_();
     reset_();
   }