Git Rename Branch

Use git branch -m:

# Rename my current branch to new-and-cool
git branch -m new-and-cool

# Rename a different branch
git branch -m bleh-bad-name new-and-cool

After this you may want to delete the remote branch:

# Delete it!
git push origin --delete bleh-bad-name

# Make a new remote for the branch
git push origin HEAD:new-and-cool

# Set your upstream to that
git branch -u origin/new-and-cool

The Stack Overflow response has SO many upvotes.

With an upstream

Start by updating the name on your local:

git branch -m new-and-cool

Then delete the old branch on the remote:

git push origin --delete bleh-bad-name

Then update your local branch's upstream:

git branch --set-upstream-to origin/new-and-cool