How to Rename Column Name in Pandas DataFrame

Pandas provide multiple ways to rename a column in the Pandas DataFrame, throughout this article we are about to explore all the possible ways to rename an existing column in the Pandas DataFrame with the help of the examples so that you don’t have any confusion regarding rename column to Pandas DataFrame.

I have a sample CSV file named employee_dataset.csv along with some dummy records as you can see below.

I have loaded all the records of the CSV file into Pandas DataFrame as you can see below.

👉 Read CSV file into Pandas DataFrame:- Click Here

Now, let’s explore all the possible ways to rename columns in Pandas DataFrame with the help of the example.

Headings of Contents

1 How to Rename Column Name in Pandas DataFrame
2 Conclusion

How to Rename Column Name in Pandas DataFrame

Using the Pandas DataFrame rename() method

rename() is a Pandas DataFrame method that is always used to rename the existing column of the Pandas DataFrame with a new column name. This is one of the very useful methods in Pandas to rename single or multiple columns.

Example:- Rename single column name in Pandas DataFrame

For example, I want to rename the column ‘emp_first_name‘ to ‘Employee First Name‘. To rename a single column we have to pass the old and new column names as Python Dictionary to the columns parameter of the rename() method. Remember key will indicate the old column name and the value indicates the new column name.


import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_csv(
                 '../../Datasets/employee_dataset.csv'
                )

df.rename(columns={
                "emp_first_name": "Employee First Name"
    
            }, inplace=True
         )
print(df)

Example: Rename Multiple Columns of The Pandas DataFrame

In this example section, I have to rename the multiple columns of the Pandas DataFrame. To rename a single column we have to pass all old and new column names as Python Dictionary to the columns parameter of the rename() method. Remember key will indicate the old column name and the value indicates the new column name.

import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_csv(
                 '../../Datasets/employee_dataset.csv'
                )

df.rename(columns={
                "emp_first_name": "Employee First Name",
                "emp_last_name": "Employee Last Name",
                "emp_gender": "Employee Gender",
    
            }, inplace=True
         )
print(df)

By assigning a list of new column names

Columns of Pandas DataFrame can also be renamed by directly assigning the list of column names to the columns property of the Pandas DataFrame.The only disadvantage of this functionality is, that we have to provide all the column names we cannot rename some column names.
So if you want to rename all the column names of the Pandas DataFrame, Then you can go with this.

Example: Rename all the column Names of Pandas DataFrame


import pandas as pd

df = pd.read_csv(
                 '../../Datasets/employee_dataset.csv'
                )


columns = ['Employee ID', 'Employee First Name', 'Employee Last Name', 'Employee Gender', 
           'Employee Salary', 'Employee Department']

df.columns = columns

print(df)

Using set_axis() Method

The set_axis() is another DataFrame method that is used to rename the column name to the Pandas DataFrame.To rename the columns using the set_axis() method, we have to pass the new column names as a list as a first parameter and column value in the axis parameter of the set_axis() method.

Let’s rename column names as the first parameter.

Example: Rename column name in Pandas DataFrame using set_axis() method


import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_csv(
                 '../../Datasets/employee_dataset.csv'
                )


columns = ['Employee ID', 'Employee First Name', 'Employee Last Name', 'Employee Gender', 
           'Employee Salary', 'Employee Department']

new_df = df.set_axis(columns, axis='columns')
print(new_df)

Useful Pandas Tutorials:

Conclusion

Throughout this article, we have seen multiple ways to rename column names in the Pandas DataFrame. But I will recommend, that if you want to rename all the column names then all the methods will be fine and for some columns, you can go with the first one which was the rename() method.

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Thanks for your valuable time…