diff --git a/gdnative-async/src/rt.rs b/gdnative-async/src/rt.rs
index da736d6ea..d7d49862f 100644
--- a/gdnative-async/src/rt.rs
+++ b/gdnative-async/src/rt.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::marker::PhantomData;
 
 use func_state::FuncState;
 use gdnative_bindings::Object;
-use gdnative_core::core_types::{GodotError, Variant};
+use gdnative_core::core_types::{GodotError, GodotString, Variant};
 use gdnative_core::init::InitHandle;
 use gdnative_core::object::{Instance, SubClass, TInstance, TRef};
 
@@ -77,13 +77,13 @@ impl Context {
     pub fn signal<C>(
         &self,
         obj: TRef<'_, C>,
-        signal: &str,
+        signal: impl Into<GodotString>,
     ) -> Result<future::Yield<Vec<Variant>>, GodotError>
     where
         C: SubClass<Object>,
     {
         let (future, resume) = future::make();
-        bridge::SignalBridge::connect(obj.upcast(), signal, resume)?;
+        bridge::SignalBridge::connect(obj.upcast(), signal.into(), resume)?;
         Ok(future)
     }
 }
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ pub fn register_runtime_with_prefix<S>(handle: &InitHandle, prefix: S)
 where
     S: Display,
 {
-    handle.add_class_as::<bridge::SignalBridge>(format!("{prefix}SignalBridge"));
-    handle.add_class_as::<func_state::FuncState>(format!("{prefix}FuncState"));
+    handle.add_class_as::<bridge::SignalBridge>(&format!("{prefix}SignalBridge"));
+    handle.add_class_as::<func_state::FuncState>(&format!("{prefix}FuncState"));
 }
 
 /// Releases all observers still in use. This should be called in the
diff --git a/gdnative-async/src/rt/bridge.rs b/gdnative-async/src/rt/bridge.rs
index a8c2b8d26..2721237b1 100644
--- a/gdnative-async/src/rt/bridge.rs
+++ b/gdnative-async/src/rt/bridge.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 
 use gdnative_bindings::{Object, Reference};
-use gdnative_core::core_types::{GodotError, Variant, VariantArray};
+use gdnative_core::core_types::{GodotError, GodotString, Variant, VariantArray};
 use gdnative_core::export::user_data::{ArcData, Map};
 use gdnative_core::export::{ClassBuilder, Method, NativeClass, NativeClassMethods, Varargs};
 use gdnative_core::godot_site;
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl NativeClass for SignalBridge {
 impl SignalBridge {
     pub(crate) fn connect(
         source: TRef<Object>,
-        signal: &str,
+        signal: GodotString,
         resume: Resume<Vec<Variant>>,
     ) -> Result<(), GodotError> {
         let mut pool = BRIDGES.get_or_init(Mutex::default).lock();
diff --git a/gdnative-bindings/src/utils.rs b/gdnative-bindings/src/utils.rs
index 5e49b2e91..65fda9bbb 100644
--- a/gdnative-bindings/src/utils.rs
+++ b/gdnative-bindings/src/utils.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use super::generated::{Engine, Node, SceneTree};
 /// invariants must be observed for the resulting node during `'a`, if any.
 ///
 /// [thread-safety]: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/threads/thread_safe_apis.html
-pub unsafe fn autoload<'a, T>(name: &str) -> Option<TRef<'a, T>>
+pub unsafe fn autoload<'a, T>(name: impl Into<NodePath>) -> Option<TRef<'a, T>>
 where
     T: SubClass<Node>,
 {
diff --git a/gdnative-core/src/export/class_builder.rs b/gdnative-core/src/export/class_builder.rs
index eb5359499..60b64f274 100644
--- a/gdnative-core/src/export/class_builder.rs
+++ b/gdnative-core/src/export/class_builder.rs
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@ use crate::export::*;
 use crate::object::NewRef;
 use crate::private::get_api;
 
-// TODO(#996): unify string parameters across all buiders
-// Potential candidates:
-// * &str
-// * impl Into<GodotString>
-// * impl Into<Cow<'a, str>>
-
 /// Allows registration of exported properties, methods and signals.
 ///
 /// See member functions of this class for usage examples.
diff --git a/gdnative-core/src/export/class_registry.rs b/gdnative-core/src/export/class_registry.rs
index 84171694b..e63a72819 100644
--- a/gdnative-core/src/export/class_registry.rs
+++ b/gdnative-core/src/export/class_registry.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use std::any::TypeId;
-use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::collections::hash_map::Entry;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::fmt;
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ static CLASS_REGISTRY: Lazy<RwLock<HashMap<TypeId, ClassInfo>>> =
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct ClassInfo {
-    pub name: Cow<'static, str>,
+    pub name: String,
     pub init_level: InitLevel,
 }
 
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ where
 /// Returns the NativeScript name of the class `C` if it is registered.
 /// Can also be used to validate whether or not `C` has been added using `InitHandle::add_class<C>()`
 #[inline]
-pub(crate) fn class_name<C: NativeClass>() -> Option<Cow<'static, str>> {
+pub(crate) fn class_name<C: NativeClass>() -> Option<String> {
     with_class_info::<C, _, _>(|i| i.name.clone())
 }
 
@@ -41,8 +40,8 @@ pub(crate) fn class_name<C: NativeClass>() -> Option<Cow<'static, str>> {
 /// The returned string should only be used for diagnostic purposes, not for types that the user
 /// has to name explicitly. The format is not guaranteed.
 #[inline]
-pub(crate) fn class_name_or_default<C: NativeClass>() -> Cow<'static, str> {
-    class_name::<C>().unwrap_or_else(|| Cow::Borrowed(std::any::type_name::<C>()))
+pub(crate) fn class_name_or_default<C: NativeClass>() -> String {
+    class_name::<C>().unwrap_or_else(|| std::any::type_name::<C>().into())
 }
 
 /// Registers the class `C` in the class registry, using a custom name at the given level.
@@ -51,14 +50,17 @@ pub(crate) fn class_name_or_default<C: NativeClass>() -> Cow<'static, str> {
 /// Returns an error with the old `ClassInfo` if a conflicting entry for `C` was already added.
 #[inline]
 pub(crate) fn register_class_as<C: NativeClass>(
-    name: Cow<'static, str>,
+    name: &str,
     init_level: InitLevel,
 ) -> Result<bool, RegisterError> {
     let type_id = TypeId::of::<C>();
     let mut registry = CLASS_REGISTRY.write();
     match registry.entry(type_id) {
         Entry::Vacant(entry) => {
-            entry.insert(ClassInfo { name, init_level });
+            entry.insert(ClassInfo {
+                name: name.into(),
+                init_level,
+            });
             Ok(true)
         }
         Entry::Occupied(entry) => {
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ pub(crate) fn register_class_as<C: NativeClass>(
 
 #[inline]
 #[allow(dead_code)] // Currently unused on platforms with inventory support
-pub(crate) fn types_with_init_level(allow: InitLevel, deny: InitLevel) -> Vec<Cow<'static, str>> {
+pub(crate) fn types_with_init_level(allow: InitLevel, deny: InitLevel) -> Vec<String> {
     let registry = CLASS_REGISTRY.read();
     let mut list = registry
         .values()
diff --git a/gdnative-core/src/export/property/invalid_accessor.rs b/gdnative-core/src/export/property/invalid_accessor.rs
index 42861e065..7312daf58 100644
--- a/gdnative-core/src/export/property/invalid_accessor.rs
+++ b/gdnative-core/src/export/property/invalid_accessor.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ unsafe impl<'l, C: NativeClass, T> RawSetter<C, T> for InvalidSetter<'l> {
         let mut set = sys::godot_property_set_func::default();
 
         let data = Box::new(InvalidAccessorData {
-            class_name: class_registry::class_name_or_default::<C>().into_owned(),
+            class_name: class_registry::class_name_or_default::<C>(),
             property_name: self.property_name.to_string(),
         });
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ unsafe impl<'l, C: NativeClass, T> RawGetter<C, T> for InvalidGetter<'l> {
         let mut get = sys::godot_property_get_func::default();
 
         let data = Box::new(InvalidAccessorData {
-            class_name: class_registry::class_name_or_default::<C>().into_owned(),
+            class_name: class_registry::class_name_or_default::<C>(),
             property_name: self.property_name.to_string(),
         });
 
diff --git a/gdnative-core/src/init/init_handle.rs b/gdnative-core/src/init/init_handle.rs
index 78d43fa9e..681694f24 100644
--- a/gdnative-core/src/init/init_handle.rs
+++ b/gdnative-core/src/init/init_handle.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ use crate::export::{
 };
 use crate::object::{GodotObject, RawObject, TRef};
 use crate::private::get_api;
-use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::ffi::CString;
 use std::ptr;
 
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ impl InitHandle {
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods + StaticallyNamed,
     {
-        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(Cow::Borrowed(C::CLASS_NAME), false, |builder| {
+        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(C::CLASS_NAME, false, |builder| {
             C::nativeclass_register_monomorphized(builder);
             f(builder);
         })
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ impl InitHandle {
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods + StaticallyNamed,
     {
-        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(Cow::Borrowed(C::CLASS_NAME), true, |builder| {
+        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(C::CLASS_NAME, true, |builder| {
             C::nativeclass_register_monomorphized(builder);
             f(builder);
         })
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ impl InitHandle {
     /// If the type implements [`StaticallyTyped`], that name is ignored in favor of the
     /// name provided at registration.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn add_class_as<C>(self, name: String)
+    pub fn add_class_as<C>(self, name: &str)
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods,
     {
@@ -87,11 +86,11 @@ impl InitHandle {
     /// If the type implements [`StaticallyTyped`], that name is ignored in favor of the
     /// name provided at registration.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn add_class_as_with<C>(self, name: String, f: impl FnOnce(&ClassBuilder<C>))
+    pub fn add_class_as_with<C>(self, name: &str, f: impl FnOnce(&ClassBuilder<C>))
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods,
     {
-        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(Cow::Owned(name), false, f)
+        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(name, false, f)
     }
 
     /// Registers a new tool class to the engine
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ impl InitHandle {
     /// If the type implements [`StaticallyTyped`], that name is ignored in favor of the
     /// name provided at registration.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn add_tool_class_as<C>(self, name: String)
+    pub fn add_tool_class_as<C>(self, name: &str)
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods,
     {
@@ -111,23 +110,23 @@ impl InitHandle {
     /// If the type implements [`StaticallyTyped`], that name is ignored in favor of the
     /// name provided at registration.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn add_tool_class_as_with<C>(self, name: String, f: impl FnOnce(&ClassBuilder<C>))
+    pub fn add_tool_class_as_with<C>(self, name: &str, f: impl FnOnce(&ClassBuilder<C>))
     where
         C: NativeClassMethods,
     {
-        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(Cow::Owned(name), true, f)
+        self.add_maybe_tool_class_as_with::<C>(name, true, f)
     }
 
     #[inline]
     fn add_maybe_tool_class_as_with<C>(
         self,
-        name: Cow<'static, str>,
+        name: &str,
         is_tool: bool,
         f: impl FnOnce(&ClassBuilder<C>),
     ) where
         C: NativeClassMethods,
     {
-        let c_class_name = CString::new(&*name).unwrap();
+        let c_class_name = CString::new(name).unwrap();
 
         match class_registry::register_class_as::<C>(name, self.init_level) {
             Ok(true) => {}
diff --git a/gdnative-core/src/object/instance.rs b/gdnative-core/src/object/instance.rs
index 6951248bb..ae1dee9b5 100644
--- a/gdnative-core/src/object/instance.rs
+++ b/gdnative-core/src/object/instance.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
 use std::ptr::NonNull;
 
@@ -599,7 +600,7 @@ where
     fn from_variant(variant: &Variant) -> Result<Self, FromVariantError> {
         let owner = Ref::<T::Base, Shared>::from_variant(variant)?;
         Self::from_base(owner).ok_or(FromVariantError::InvalidInstance {
-            expected: class_registry::class_name_or_default::<T>(),
+            expected: Cow::Owned(class_registry::class_name_or_default::<T>()),
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/gdnative/src/globalscope.rs b/gdnative/src/globalscope.rs
index 781ec7d29..8bc7b2d97 100644
--- a/gdnative/src/globalscope.rs
+++ b/gdnative/src/globalscope.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 //! [@GDScript]: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_@gdscript.html
 
 use crate::api::{Resource, ResourceLoader};
-use crate::core_types::NodePath;
+use crate::core_types::GodotString;
 use crate::object::{memory::RefCounted, GodotObject, Ref, SubClass};
 
 #[doc(inline)]
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub use gdnative_core::globalscope::*;
 /// let scene = load::<PackedScene>("res://path/to/Main.tscn").unwrap();
 /// ```
 #[inline]
-pub fn load<T>(path: impl Into<NodePath>) -> Option<Ref<T>>
+pub fn load<T>(path: impl Into<GodotString>) -> Option<Ref<T>>
 where
     T: SubClass<Resource> + GodotObject<Memory = RefCounted>,
 {