Python Pandas - Alter index name

To alter index name in Pandas, use the index.rename() method. This method returns a new Index object with the specified name while keeping all the original data intact.

Syntax

The basic syntax for renaming an index is ?

index.rename(name)

Parameters:

• name ? The new name for the index

Creating a Pandas Index

First, let's create a Pandas Index with an initial name ?

import pandas as pd

# Creating Pandas index with name 'Transport'
index = pd.Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], name='Transport')

# Display the original index
print("Original Pandas Index:")
print(index)

Original Pandas Index:
Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], dtype='object', name='Transport')

Renaming the Index

Now let's rename the index using the rename() method ?

import pandas as pd

# Creating Pandas index
index = pd.Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], name='Transport')

# Rename the index
renamed_index = index.rename('Mode_of_Transport')

print("Original index name:", index.name)
print("Renamed index name:", renamed_index.name)
print("\nRenamed Index:")
print(renamed_index)

Original index name: Transport
Renamed index name: Mode_of_Transport

Renamed Index:
Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], dtype='object', name='Mode_of_Transport')

Complete Example

Here's a comprehensive example showing index properties before and after renaming ?

import pandas as pd

# Creating Pandas index
index = pd.Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], name='Transport')

# Display the Pandas index
print("Pandas Index...")
print(index)

# Return the number of elements in the Index
print("\nNumber of elements in the index...")
print(index.size)

# Return the dtype of the data
print("\nThe dtype object...")
print(index.dtype)

# Rename the index
print("\nRename the index...")
print(index.rename('Mode_of_Transport'))

Pandas Index...
Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], dtype='object', name='Transport')

Number of elements in the index...
6

The dtype object...
object

Rename the index...
Index(['Car', 'Bike', 'Airplane', 'Ship', 'Truck', 'Suburban'], dtype='object', name='Mode_of_Transport')

Key Points

• The rename() method creates a new Index object and doesn't modify the original index
• Only the name property changes; the data and dtype remain the same
• You can assign the result back to a variable to use the renamed index

Conclusion

Use index.rename() to change the name of a Pandas Index. This method returns a new Index object with the updated name while preserving all original data and properties.