diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 201776c..18f7dfd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
  how a consumer would use the library or CLI tool (e.g. adding unit tests, updating documentation, etc) are not captured
  here.
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Updated
+
+- `client.actors.v1.get_actor_by_name` now defaults to `prefer_parent=True`. Previously, it defaulted to `False`.
+
 ## 2.1.0 - 2024-09-30
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/_incydr_sdk/actors/client.py b/src/_incydr_sdk/actors/client.py
index ce98a18..099eab3 100644
--- a/src/_incydr_sdk/actors/client.py
+++ b/src/_incydr_sdk/actors/client.py
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ def get_actor_by_id(self, actor_id: str, prefer_parent: bool = False) -> Actor:
             if err.response.status_code == 404:
                 raise ActorNotFoundError
 
-    def get_actor_by_name(self, name: str, prefer_parent: bool = False) -> Actor:
+    def get_actor_by_name(self, name: str, prefer_parent: bool = True) -> Actor:
         """
         Get an actor by their name.
 
         **Parameters**:
 
         * **name**: `str` (required) - The actor name.
-        * **prefer_parent**: `str` - Returns an actor's parent when applicable. Returns an actor themselves if they have no parent.
+        * **prefer_parent**: `str` - Returns an actor's parent when applicable. Returns an actor themselves if they have no parent. Defaults to True.
 
         **Returns**: An [`Actor`][actor-model] object representing the actor.
         """
@@ -142,7 +142,10 @@ def get_actor_by_name(self, name: str, prefer_parent: bool = False) -> Actor:
             matches = self.get_page(name_starts_with=name)
             for actor in matches.actors:
                 if actor.name == name:
-                    return actor
+                    actor_profile = self._parent.session.get(
+                        f"/v1/actors/actor/id/{actor.actor_id}"
+                    )
+                    return Actor.parse_response(actor_profile)
             raise ActorNotFoundError(name)
 
     def get_family_by_member_id(self, actor_id: str) -> ActorFamily:
diff --git a/tests/test_actors.py b/tests/test_actors.py
index b5a2bfa..4ac5cb5 100644
--- a/tests/test_actors.py
+++ b/tests/test_actors.py
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ def mock_get_actor_by_name(httpserver_auth: HTTPServer):
             }
         ),
     ).respond_with_json({"actors": [CHILD_ACTOR]})
+    httpserver_auth.expect_request(
+        "/v1/actors/actor/id/child-actor-id", method="GET"
+    ).respond_with_json(CHILD_ACTOR)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -407,7 +410,7 @@ def test_get_actor_by_id_with_prefer_parent_returns_expected_data(
 
 def test_get_actor_by_name_returns_expected_data(mock_get_actor_by_name):
     client = Client()
-    response = client.actors.v1.get_actor_by_name(CHILD_ACTOR_NAME)
+    response = client.actors.v1.get_actor_by_name(CHILD_ACTOR_NAME, prefer_parent=False)
     assert isinstance(response, Actor)
     assert response.actor_id == CHILD_ACTOR_ID
     assert response.name == CHILD_ACTOR_NAME
@@ -438,7 +441,7 @@ def test_get_actor_by_name_when_actor_not_found_raises_error(
 
     client = Client()
     with pytest.raises(ActorNotFoundError) as e:
-        client.actors.v1.get_actor_by_name(CHILD_ACTOR_NAME)
+        client.actors.v1.get_actor_by_name(CHILD_ACTOR_NAME, prefer_parent=False)
     assert "Actor Not Found Error" in str(e.value)