How to rename a MySQL database - Rocketeers app

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How to rename a MySQL database
==============================

### [\#Databases](https://rocketeersapp.com/knowledge/databases)

Unlike renaming a table, you can't rename a database in MySQL sadly enough. So there is no SQL query you can execute to achieve this. However, it is possible with a workaround.

 Published by [Mark van Eijk](https://rocketeersapp.com/author/mark-van-eijk) on September 24, 2024 
Updated on September 25, 2024 · 1 minute read

1. [Create a newly named database](#content-create-a-newly-named-database)
2. [Dump & import](#content-dump--import)
3. [Drop the old database](#content-drop-the-old-database)

The most important step: To get going with this, first [create a full backup of your MySQL database](/backup-mysql-databases-single-file) to make sure you don't loose any data!

[\#](#content-create-a-newly-named-database "Permalink")Create a newly named database
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This step involves creating the database you want to rename the old database to:

 ```
CREATE DATABASE `NEW_DATABASE_NAME`;

```

[\#](#content-dump--import "Permalink")Dump & import
--------------------------------------------------------

Dump and import the old database into your new database:

 ```
mysqldump -u USERNAME -p OLD_DATABASE_NAME | mysql -u USERNAME -p NEW_DATABASE_NAME

```

[\#](#content-drop-the-old-database "Permalink")Drop the old database
---------------------------------------------------------------------

If your really sure, you can (with the backup on hand) remove the old database safely:

 ```
DROP DATABASE `OLD_DATABASE_NAME`

```

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 [View all 20 articles →](https://rocketeersapp.com/knowledge/databases)