rename

/ɹiːˈneɪm/

//ɹiːˈneɪm// verb

"rename" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rename” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #23,082 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#23,082
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
17
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To give a new name to.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

rename vs Rene
50% similar
rename vs Renée
50% similar
rename vs resale
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for rename
PropertyValue
Headwordrename
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹiːˈneɪm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#23,082
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs17
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rename” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). rename lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for rename is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹiːˈneɪm/. Corpus data places it at rank #23,082 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "To give a new name to.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for rename, with forms such as "ername", "reanme", and "renaem". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 17 confusable-pair relationships, "Rene", "Renée", "resale", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From re- + name. The correct English form is rename, spelled R-E-N-A-M-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To give a new name to.

Etymology

From re- + name.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ername,reanme,renaem,renamme,renmae,renname,rneame,rrename

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of rename - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ername2reanme2renaem2renamme1renmae2renname1rneame2rrename1
Edit distance from "rename"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "rename"?
"rename" is spelled R-E-N-A-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹiːˈneɪm/.
What does "rename" mean?
As a verb, "rename" means: To give a new name to.
What words are commonly confused with "rename"?
"rename" is commonly confused with "Rene", "Renée", "resale". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "rename"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rename" is /ɹiːˈneɪm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "rename"?
From re- + name. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “rename”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-N-A-M-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹiːˈneɪm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Rene” - see the side-by-side comparison. rename vs Rene
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list