rename

Rename is the act of giving a new name to an existing entity. It may be done for accuracy, branding, legal reasons, or personal choice and can apply to people, organizations, places, files, programming objects, or biological taxa. Renaming involves updating identifiers and often the associated references to prevent confusion, while preserving the connection to the original object through records or history.

In computing, a rename operation changes the name of a file or directory. Operating systems provide dedicated primitives: the POSIX rename function, Windows RenameFile, and shell commands such as mv or rename. Renaming can be atomic or require multi-step procedures; pitfalls include overwriting an existing target, breaking hard links, and varying case-sensitivity across file systems. Good practice includes updating references, testing effects on paths, and considering cross-file-system moves.

In taxonomy, taxonomic names may be changed when evidence prompts reclassification, priority rules are applied, or issues such as homonyms arise. Renaming is usually documented in formal nomenclature, with synonyms maintained to preserve history. Modern databases track name histories to support literature search and data integration.

In legal and corporate contexts, individuals may legally change their name, and organizations may rebrand or rename after mergers or strategic shifts. Renaming requires updates to records, licenses, contracts, trademarks, and public-facing materials, with attention to jurisdictional rules and potential transitional requirements.