Git: Rename Branch for Both Local and Remote Repositories

git branch -m old_branch new_branch         # Rename branch locally
git push origin :old_branch                 # Delete the old branch
git push --set-upstream origin new_branch   # Push the new branch, set local branch to track the new remote

source:  http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1526794/rename-master-branch-for-both-local-and-remote-git-repositories?answertab=votes#tab-top