What does rename mean?
Rename means to give something a different name. The word is used when a person, place, product, file, or other object receives a new designation, often because the old name is inaccurate, outdated, or no longer suitable. In everyday and institutional contexts, renaming can signal a change in identity, ownership, purpose, or branding. In computing, renaming a file or folder changes its label while usually preserving its contents. The verb is neutral and widely used in British and American English. Its prefix re- suggests repetition, but in this word it combines with name to express a fresh naming rather than simply naming again. Renaming is especially useful when discussing transitions in identity, official terminology, product branding, and digital organization.
verbTo give someone or something a different name, especially permanently or officially. It can also mean to change the name of a file, object, place, or other item.
- To change the name of a person, place, object, file, or other thing.
- To give a person, object, or product a different, usually more suitable or official name.
"The city council voted to rename the avenue after a local historian."
"She renamed the folder to make its contents easier to identify."
"The organization announced that it would rename several of its older product lines."
A rename gives something a new identity while leaving its underlying nature unchanged.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rename come from?
Rename was formed in English by combining the prefix re- with name. The base name comes through Old English nama, from Proto-Germanic *namô, ultimately related to a wider Indo-European root meaning “name” or “designation.” The prefix re- adds the sense of doing something again, so the resulting word means to assign a name anew.
Related word forms
How rename is actually used
The word is neutral in register and is common in both formal and informal contexts. In computing, it usually refers specifically to changing a file's or folder's name without altering its contents.