How to Rename Data in Power BI

Building a Power BI report that looks great is only half the battle, it also needs to be easy for others (and your future self) to understand. That's where clear, consistent naming comes in. This guide will walk you through exactly how to rename data in Power BI, from columns and tables in Power Query to measures and visuals in your final report.

Why Renaming Data in Power BI Isn't Just "Nice to Have"

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." You might inherit a dataset with column headers like Cust_ID-Num or SALES_QTR1_22_USD. Leaving them as-is creates several problems:

• It's Confusing: Vague or technical names make it hard for stakeholders to understand the visuals at a glance. What does tran_val mean? "Transaction Value" is much clearer.
• It Makes DAX Harder: Writing formulas is much more intuitive when you're referencing [Total Revenue] instead of [dbo_TBL_REV_FY22-Agg]. Clean names make your formulas readable and easier to debug.
• It Looks Unprofessional: A polished report with clear labels builds trust in your data and your analysis. Messy, default names can make the entire report feel rushed and unreliable.

Taking a few moments to rename your data elements is one of the highest-leverage activities you can perform to improve the quality and usability of your Power BI reports.

Renaming Columns: Your First Line of Defense

Columns are the most frequently renamed element in Power BI. You have two primary places to do this, and the one you choose has important implications for your data model.

Method 1: Rename in the Power Query Editor (Best Practice)

The Power Query Editor is the data transformation layer of Power BI. Renaming columns here is considered the best practice because the change is applied early in the process, before the data is even loaded into your model. This means the new, clean name is what Power BI will use everywhere, including in DAX calculations.

When to use this method: Almost always. This should be your default approach for cleaning column names as you import data.

Here's how to do it:

1. From the main Power BI window, click on the Transform data button in the Home ribbon. This will open the Power Query Editor.
2. In the Queries pane on the left, select the table (or query) that contains the column you want to rename.
3. Find the column you want to change and do one of the following:
4. Type the new, desired name for your column and press Enter.
5. You'll see a new step called "Renamed Columns" appear in the "Applied Steps" pane on the right. This logs your change, allowing you to easily track or undo it later.
6. Once you're done renaming, click Close & Apply in the top-left corner to load your changes into the Power BI model.

By renaming in Power Query, you’re creating a more robust and maintainable data model. Any new measures or visuals you create will automatically use the correct, user-friendly name.

Method 2: Rename in the Report View (Data Pane)

You can also rename a column directly from the main Power BI interface in the Data pane on the right-hand side of the screen. This is a very quick way to make a cosmetic change.

When to use this method: When you need a quick, visual change for a specific report and don’t want to modify the underlying query. Be aware this can cause confusion.

Here's the process:

1. In the main Power BI Report View, look for the Data pane on the right.
2. Expand the table that contains the column you want to rename.
3. Find the column and do one of the following:
4. Type the new name and press Enter.

Important Difference: Renaming in the Data pane only creates a metadata alias. The original column name from Power Query still exists in the background. This can lead to confusion because the name in your visuals ("Total Sales") might not match the name available when writing DAX code (which might still be something like Sales_Data[sales_amt]). For this reason, it's highly recommended to perform all fundamental renaming in the Power Query Editor.

Renaming Tables (Queries)

Just like with columns, giving your tables clear and concise names is crucial for navigating your data model, especially as it grows in complexity. Having tables named Web Analytics Data Export (1) and Web Analytics Data Export (2) is a recipe for disaster.

Steps to Rename a Table in Power Query:

This is, once again, the recommended approach.

1. Open the Power Query Editor by clicking "Transform data."
2. In the Queries pane on the left, which lists all your tables, find the one you want to rename.
3. Right-click the table name and select Rename.
4. Alternatively, you can select the table and change its name in the Query Settings pane on the right, under the "Name" field.
5. Type the new name (e.g., from "Sheet1" to "Sales Transactions") and press Enter.
6. Click Close & Apply.

Renaming Measures

Unlike columns and tables, measures are created using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) and exist only within the Power BI data model. Therefore, they can only be renamed within the main report interface.

It's a good practice to adopt a naming convention for measures, such as prefixing them with an underscore or symbol (e.g., _Total Revenue) to group them all together at the top of a table's field list.

Steps to Rename a Measure:

1. Find your measure in the Data pane. It will have a calculator icon next to it.
2. Double-click the measure name to highlight it.
3. Type the new name for your measure and press Enter.

That's it! Any visuals currently using that measure will automatically update to reflect the new name.

Tidying Up: Renaming Visual and Page Elements

Your cleanup job isn't done until your report is fully readable. Default titles for visuals and pages are often unhelpful (e.g., "Sum of Sales by sales_rep_name").

How to Rename a Visual's Title:

Power BI creates automatic titles based on the fields you used. They are a good start, but you should always refine them.

1. Select the visual on your report canvas that you want to change.
2. Go to the Visualizations pane.
3. Click the icon that looks like a paint roller, labeled Format your visual.
4. Expand the General section.
5. Expand the Title dropdown. You can edit the title text directly in the "Text" field. Make it descriptive and easy to understand, like "Total Revenue by Sales Rep."

How to Rename a Report Page:

Don't leave your users navigating through "Page 1," "Page 2," and "Page 3." Give each page a meaningful name that describes its content.

1. Look at the page tabs at the bottom of the Power BI window.
2. Double-click the tab name you want to edit.
3. Type in a new, descriptive name (e.g., "Executive Summary," "Sales Performance," "Marketing Funnel") and press Enter.

Best Practices for Naming Conventions

To keep everything organized, follow these simple rules:

• Be Descriptive and Brief: The name should clearly describe the data. CustomerFirstName is better than C_FN or ReportColumn1.
• Use PascalCase or snake_case: TotalRevenue or total_revenue is easier to read than totalrevenue. This is especially helpful for DAX readability.
• Stay Consistent: Decide on a convention and stick with it. If you use YoY for "Year-over-Year" in one place, use it everywhere.
• Avoid Unnecessary Prefixes/Suffixes: Don't name your table Table_Sales or a column Column_Date. It's redundant.
• Specify Units if Necessary: If you have multiple currency fields, specify them (e.g., Revenue (USD), Revenue (EUR)).
• Use Prefixes for Measure Organization: As mentioned earlier, using a prefix like _ or z_ for measures groups them neatly in the Fields list.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to rename your columns, tables, measures, and visual elements is a foundational part of building effective and user-friendly Power BI reports. It transforms a confusing collection of data into a clear, intuitive, and professional-looking analytical tool that empowers your audience to make better decisions.

While mastering naming conventions in Power BI is a great skill, sometimes you just need answers from your data without spending hours cleaning, modeling, and configuring reports. That’s why we built Graphed. Instead of manually connecting sources and renaming fields, you can just ask questions in plain English like, "Show me a comparison of Facebook ad spend vs. Shopify revenue by campaign," and Graphed instantly builds the report for you, connecting all your data and saving you from the manual busywork.