How to rename a machine image?

[sogartar]

How do you rename a machine image from the web interface or from the API?

[alexmoore]

At the time of writing this is not possible, you can see a note in the web interface that guides you that the "Name is permanent": 

[njervis]

I've not attempted it, but can't you create a new image with the name you require using the existing image as the source-image?

[alexmoore · Accepted solution]

A machine image is created from an instance, but - that is an idea - temporarily deploy the machine instance you want to rename as a new instance and then capture a fresh machine image from that one, then delete the temporary instance.

[Nil0]

Just to update...
As njervis suggested it is now possible to write:
gcloud compute images create NEW_NAME --source-image=IMAGE_TO_RENAME