How does one change the share name with file sharing in Mac OS X? In Mac OS X you can create shared folders. Usually the share name is the same as the folder, but it can be different. For example if the is a user with display name "John Doe" and system name "johnd" the system creates a Shared folder named "Public" in the users folder Users/johnd/Public but the share name is "John Doe's Public Folder".

If that Shared folder is removed from the File Sharing folder list and re-added then it just shows as "Public".

How do you change the Share name?
Use Directory Utility.


Open /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/Directory Utility
Select the Directory Editor tab
In the "Viewing" bar, select SharePoints in node /Local/Default
Authenticate by clicking the little lock button


Shares are listed in the left-hand column. Select one and update the following as needed: 


RecordName (the name of the listing)
dsAttrTypeNative:smb_name
dsAttrTypeNative:afp_name


Changes should take effect immediately.

Apple hid this utility for a reason: Be careful, a wrong Directory entry can wreck your Mac. 

Renaming sharepoints used to be possible with the Server app, but filesharing is now handled by the normal MacOS System Preference pane.