Change filename of photo in Mac Photos

SillyFrissonOverACroissant wrote:

Hi,

...

Even when I export the photo, delete it entirely from My Library and the bin, rename and import, it still presents with the same filename as when I first imported it. I’m baffled.

This should work, unless your library is an iCloud Photos Library. If your Photos Library is syncing with iCloud, you have to wait, until the deleted photos have vanished completely from iCloud and all devices as well, before you reimport them.

• Export the original photo, rename it.
• Delete it from your Photos Library and empty Recently Deleted.
• Wait until it has vanished from all devices and from iCloud Photos at www.icloud.com
• Only then reimport the renamed photo.

Another option is to rename the Title of the photo to what you would rename the file name to and when you export it for any reason you use the Title as the new file name.

There are a number of user created AppleScripts to batch rename the Title here: Thematic Index to Photos for Mac Related User Tips.

Many of the scripts compiled as an applications can be downloaded from this tutorial site:  P01 - Applescripts from Photos’ User Tips Compiled as Applications

Did you also check ALL other connected devices?

You may also want to check, if the photos in question are still in My Photo Stream on any of your devices. As long as a photo is still in My Photo Stream, it will come come back like a bad penny.