The syntax for doing so uses the sp_renamedb system stored procedure:

1> EXEC sp_renamedb 'old_db_name', 'new_db_name'

• You must me a member of the sysadmin fixed server role to rename a database.
• Ensure that you have no code that references the old database name. If so, change the code to reference the new database name.
• The database being renamed must be in "single-user" mode.
• Any database files and/or filegroup names will not be changed as a result of renaming the database.
• You must be in the master database to execute the sp_renamedb system stored procedure.

Example

The following example will rename the 'DevelopmentDB' database to 'ProductionDB':

     USE master
     GO
     EXEC sp_dboption DevelopmentDB, 'Single User', True
     EXEC sp_renamedb 'DevelopmentDB', 'ProductionDB'
     EXEC sp_dboption ProductionDB, 'Single User', False

To verify that the database was actually renamed, run the following:

1> EXEC sp_helpdb

     name         db_size    owner    dbid     created
     -----------  ---------  -------  -------  -----
     master       11.94 MB   sa       1        Aug  6 2000
     model        1.13 MB    sa       3        Aug  6 2000
     msdb         13.00 MB   sa       4        Aug  6 2000
     Northwind    3.63 MB    sa       6        Aug  6 2000
     ProductionDB 2.00 MB    sa       7        Nov 15 2001
     pubs         2.00 MB    sa       5        Aug  6 2000
     tempdb       8.75 MB    sa       2        Nov 15 2001