how to rename sections in latex

Redefine any of the following commands:

• Abstract: \abstractname
• Appendix: \appendixname
• Bibliography: \bibname
• Chapter: \chaptername
• Contents: \contentsname
• Index: \indexname
• List of Figures: \listfigurename
• List of Tables: \listtablename
• Part: \partname
• References: \refname

So, for example,

\renewcommand\refname{My References}

The list comes from The LaTeX Companion, 2nd edition, page 34.

For references \bibname is defined in the book class, but not in the article class. The latter is using \refname.