diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1132417f..35c5b7bc 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -246,13 +246,13 @@ set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR "error" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
 set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL "critical" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
 set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF "off" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
 
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL}\")
-target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF}\")
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL})
+target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF=${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF})
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Build binaries
diff --git a/include/spdlog/common.h b/include/spdlog/common.h
index dee5baca..10947167 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/common.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/common.h
@@ -153,37 +153,40 @@ enum level_enum
 };
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE "trace"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE trace
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG "debug"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG debug
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO "info"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO info
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING "warning"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING warning
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR "error"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR error
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL "critical"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL critical
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF)
-#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF "off"
+#define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF off
 #endif
 
+#define QUOTE(str) #str
+#define EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(str) QUOTE(str)
+
 #if !defined(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAMES)
 #define SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAMES                                                                                                                 \
     {                                                                                                                                      \
-        SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL, SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF                                                                    \
+      EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL), EXPAND_AND_QUOTE(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF) \
     }
 #endif