How do I rename both a Git local and remote branch name?

There are a few ways to accomplish that:

1. Change your local branch and then push your changes
2. Push the branch to remote with the new name while keeping the original name locally

Renaming local and remote

# Rename the local branch to the new name
git branch -m <old_name> <new_name>

# Delete the old branch on remote - where <remote> is, for example, origin
git push <remote> --delete <old_name>

# Or shorter way to delete remote branch [:]
git push <remote> :<old_name>

# Prevent git from using the old name when pushing in the next step.
# Otherwise, git will use the old upstream name instead of <new_name>.
git branch --unset-upstream <new_name>

# Push the new branch to remote
git push <remote> <new_name>

# Reset the upstream branch for the new_name local branch
git push <remote> -u <new_name>

Renaming Only remote branch

Credit: ptim

# In this option, we will push the branch to the remote with the new name
# While keeping the local name as is
git push <remote> <remote>/<old_name>:refs/heads/<new_name> :<old_name>

Important note:

When you use the git branch -m (move), Git is also updating your tracking branch with the new name.

git remote rename legacy legacy

git remote rename is trying to update your remote section in your configuration file. It will rename the remote with the given name to the new name, but in your case, it did not find any, so the renaming failed.

But it will not do what you think; it will rename your local configuration remote name and not the remote branch. 

Note Git servers might allow you to rename Git branches using the web interface or external programs (like Sourcetree, etc.), but you have to keep in mind that in Git all the work is done locally, so it's recommended to use the above commands to the work.

If you have named a branch incorrectly AND pushed this to the remote repository follow these steps to rename that branch (based on this article):

1. Rename your local branch:

   • If you are on the branch you want to rename:
     git branch -m new-name

   • If you are on a different branch:
     git branch -m old-name new-name

2. Delete the old-name remote branch and push the new-name local branch:
   git push origin :old-name new-name

3. Reset the upstream branch for the new-name local branch:
   Switch to the branch and then:
   git push origin -u new-name

• Rename your local branch.

If you are on the branch you want to rename:

git branch -m new-name

if you stay on a different branch at the current time:

git branch -m old-name new-name

• Delete the old-name remote branch and push the new-name local branch.

Stay on the target branch and:

git push origin :old-name new-name

• Reset the upstream branch for the new-name local branch.

Switch to the target branch and then:

git push origin -u new-name