diff --git a/gittip/models/__init__.py b/gittip/models/__init__.py
index c2f2c8d821..3c57435146 100644
--- a/gittip/models/__init__.py
+++ b/gittip/models/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # .metadata, and thus aren't cleaned up properly during teardown.)
 
 from gittip.models.absorption import Absorption
-from gittip.models.deletion import Deletion
+from gittip.models.deactivation import Deactivation
 
 
 # The rest we actually use.
diff --git a/gittip/models/deletion.py b/gittip/models/deactivation.py
similarity index 81%
rename from gittip/models/deletion.py
rename to gittip/models/deactivation.py
index 1d467f084a..e5178da6d7 100644
--- a/gittip/models/deletion.py
+++ b/gittip/models/deactivation.py
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@
 
 from gittip.orm import db
 
-class Deletion(db.Model):
-    __tablename__ = 'deletions'
+class Deactivation(db.Model):
+    __tablename__ = 'deactivations'
 
     id = Column(Integer, nullable=False, primary_key=True)
     timestamp = Column(TIMESTAMP(timezone=True), nullable=False,
                        default="now()")
-    deleted_was = Column(Text, nullable=False)
+    deactivated_was = Column(Text, nullable=False)
     archived_as = Column(Text, ForeignKey("participants.id",
                                           onupdate="RESTRICT",
                                           ondelete="RESTRICT"), nullable=False)
diff --git a/gittip/participant.py b/gittip/participant.py
index f01ee9b718..77261c80a7 100644
--- a/gittip/participant.py
+++ b/gittip/participant.py
@@ -842,14 +842,17 @@ def deactivate(self):
         """Deactivate this account.
         """
         with gittip.db.get_transaction() as txn:
-            deleted_was = self.id
-            archived_as = self.archive(txn, deleted_was)
+            deactivated_was = self.id
+            archived_as = self.archive(txn, deactivated_was)
             txn.execute("""
 
-                INSERT INTO deletions (deleted_was, archived_as)
-                     VALUES (%s, %s)
+                INSERT
+                    INTO deactivations
+                        (deactivated_was, archived_as)
+                    VALUES
+                        (%s, %s)
 
-            """, (deleted_was, archived_as))
+            """, (deactivated_was, archived_as))
         return archived_as
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_participant.py b/tests/test_participant.py
index 4aa29b9f6b..a750041b8e 100644
--- a/tests/test_participant.py
+++ b/tests/test_participant.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from aspen.utils import utcnow
 from nose.tools import assert_raises, assert_equals
 
-from gittip.models import Absorption, Deletion, User, Tip
+from gittip.models import Absorption, Deactivation, User, Tip
 from gittip.orm import db
 from gittip.participant import Participant, NeedConfirmation
 from gittip.testing import Harness, looks_random
@@ -135,22 +135,22 @@ def test_deleting_a_non_existent_user_assertion_errors(self):
 
     def test_no_deactivations_to_start_with(self):
         self.make_participant('alice')
-        actual = Deletion.query.filter_by().count()
+        actual = Deactivation.query.filter_by().count()
         assert actual == 0, actual
 
     def test_deactivate_records_one_deactivation(self):
         self.make_participant('alice').deactivate()
-        actual = Deletion.query.filter_by().count()
+        actual = Deactivation.query.filter_by().count()
         assert actual == 1, actual
 
     def test_deactivation_records_deactivated_was(self):
         self.make_participant('alice').deactivate()
-        actual = Deletion.query.filter_by()[0].deactivated_was
+        actual = Deactivation.query.filter_by()[0].deactivated_was
         assert actual == 'alice', actual
 
     def test_deactivation_records_archived_as(self):
         self.make_participant('alice').deactivate()
-        actual = Deletion.query.filter_by()[0].archived_as
+        actual = Deactivation.query.filter_by()[0].archived_as
         assert looks_random(actual)