BUG: Fix series rename called with str altering name rather index (GH17407)
State: closed

- [x] closes #17407
- [x] tests added / passed
- [x] passes `git diff upstream/master -u -- "*.py" | flake8 --diff`
- [x] whatsnew entry


Labels:
name: Bug

Comments:
# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#17654](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/e2a0251d32a1467e9ab86281a31f57aca582a88f?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `0.04%`.
> The diff coverage is `100%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654/graphs/tree.svg?src=pr&width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&height=150)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #17654      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   91.27%   91.22%   -0.05%     
==========================================
  Files         163      163              
  Lines       49765    49766       +1     
==========================================
- Hits        45421    45401      -20     
- Misses       4344     4365      +21
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `89.02% <100%> (-0.03%)` | :arrow_down: |
| #single | `40.33% <100%> (-0.06%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/dtypes/inference.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZHR5cGVzL2luZmVyZW5jZS5weQ==) | `98.36% <100%> (+0.02%)` | :arrow_up: |
| [pandas/io/gbq.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL2dicS5weQ==) | `25% <0%> (-58.34%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/plotting/\_converter.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3Bsb3R0aW5nL19jb252ZXJ0ZXIucHk=) | `63.38% <0%> (-1.82%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/frame.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZnJhbWUucHk=) | `97.73% <0%> (-0.1%)` | :arrow_down: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [e2a0251...a1f9565](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/17654?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

For indexing performance test,

>        before           after         ratio
>      [f797c1dc]       [ccb3887a]
>      4.05±0.01μs      3.58±0.02μs     0.88  indexing.DataFrameIndexing.time_get_value

For timeseries performance test,

>        before           after         ratio
>      [f797c1dc]       [ccb3887a]
>         3.68s            3.27s     0.89  timeseries.Iteration.time_iter_periodindex

can you do

```
git commit --all --amend -C HEAD
```

then force push

this will rebuild and make sure our CI passes. ping on green.
ci failed with this error:

> unable to execute 'x86_64-conda_cos6-linux-gnu-gcc': No such file or directory

and I found [this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46450912/unable-to-execute-x86-64-conda-cos6-linux-gnu-gcc-no-such-file-or-directory) on stackoverflow, seems related to a new Anaconda release.

Any idea how to fix this?
If you rebase on top of master it should be fixed.
Thanks, Tom! CI passes now.
Just removed a conflict marker in the whatsnew in a1f9565. Thanks @huashuai 
Thanks @TomAugspurger and @jreback for the reviews. This is my first PR, and I'm excited to do more.