diff --git a/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/LayerManagerDialog.html b/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/LayerManagerDialog.html
index 5b92bc38cd2..4dbc9ac63f1 100644
--- a/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/LayerManagerDialog.html
+++ b/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/LayerManagerDialog.html
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@ <h2>Layers tab</h2>
 <p>Lists all layers in the mission. Each layer has a checkbox; uncheck it to hide all
 objects on that layer in the viewport, check it to show them again. Newly placed objects
 are automatically assigned to the Default layer.</p>
-<p>Use <strong>Add</strong> to create a new layer. Use <strong>Delete</strong> to remove
-the selected layer. The <em>Default</em> layer cannot be deleted.</p>
+<p>Use <strong>Add Layer</strong> to create a new layer. Use <strong>Rename Layer</strong>
+to rename the selected layer; every object on it is updated to the new name. Use
+<strong>Delete Layer</strong> to remove the selected layer, reassigning its objects to the
+Default layer. The <em>Default</em> layer cannot be renamed or deleted.</p>
 
 <h2>Filters tab</h2>
 <p>Works in conjunction with layers to provide additional visibility control. Allows
diff --git a/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/SceneBrowserDialog.html b/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/SceneBrowserDialog.html
index 07a6b9a477d..591ce11903c 100644
--- a/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/SceneBrowserDialog.html
+++ b/qtfred/help-src/doc/general/SceneBrowserDialog.html
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ <h2>Layer visibility</h2>
 <p>Each layer row in the list has a checkbox. Uncheck it to hide all objects on that layer
 in the viewport; check it to show them again. This is the same visibility toggle available
 in the <a href="LayerManagerDialog.html">Layer Manager</a>.</p>
+<p><strong>Right-click</strong> a layer row for a menu with <strong>Rename Layer</strong>,
+which renames the layer just as the Layer Manager does. The <em>Default</em> layer cannot be
+renamed.</p>
 
 <div class="note">Hiding objects via the layer checkbox does not delete or disable them.
 Hidden objects remain in the mission file and function normally in-game.</div>
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.cpp b/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.cpp
index cee5ef70045..03489e6e943 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.cpp
@@ -946,6 +946,56 @@ bool EditorViewport::deleteLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* errorMessag
 	return true;
 }
 
+bool EditorViewport::renameLayer(const SCP_string& oldName, const SCP_string& newName, SCP_string* errorMessage) {
+	if (newName.empty()) {
+		if (errorMessage != nullptr) {
+			*errorMessage = "Layer name cannot be empty.";
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	const auto layerIndex = getLayerIndex(oldName);
+	if (layerIndex == static_cast<size_t>(-1)) {
+		if (errorMessage != nullptr) {
+			*errorMessage = "Layer does not exist.";
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+	if (layerIndex == 0) {
+		if (errorMessage != nullptr) {
+			*errorMessage = "The default layer cannot be renamed.";
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	// Reject collisions with a different layer; a case-only rename resolves to the same index and is allowed.
+	const auto existingIndex = getLayerIndex(newName);
+	if (existingIndex != static_cast<size_t>(-1) && existingIndex != layerIndex) {
+		if (errorMessage != nullptr) {
+			*errorMessage = "Layer names must be unique.";
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	_layerNames[layerIndex] = newName;
+
+	// Rewrite the per-object fred_layer string on every object assigned to this layer.
+	std::vector<int> toResync;
+	for (const auto& objectLayer : _objectLayers) {
+		if (objectLayer.second == layerIndex) {
+			toResync.push_back(objectLayer.first);
+		}
+	}
+	for (int objIdx : toResync) {
+		setObjectLayerByIndex(objIdx, layerIndex);
+	}
+
+	syncMissionLayerNames();
+	editor->notifyLayerStructureChanged();
+	editor->notifyLayerListChanged();
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool EditorViewport::setLayerVisibility(const SCP_string& name, bool visible, SCP_string* errorMessage) {
 	const auto layerIndex = getLayerIndex(name);
 	if (layerIndex == static_cast<size_t>(-1)) {
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.h b/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.h
index 91dca1b071a..8d788b3b5fa 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.h
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/EditorViewport.h
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ class EditorViewport {
 	SCP_vector<SCP_string> getLayerNames() const;
 	bool addLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* errorMessage = nullptr);
 	bool deleteLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* errorMessage = nullptr);
+	bool renameLayer(const SCP_string& oldName, const SCP_string& newName, SCP_string* errorMessage = nullptr);
 	bool setLayerVisibility(const SCP_string& name, bool visible, SCP_string* errorMessage = nullptr);
 	bool getLayerVisibility(const SCP_string& name, bool* visible, SCP_string* errorMessage = nullptr) const;
 	void showAllLayers();
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.cpp b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.cpp
index c6ee021a655..d7e4b2e22e1 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.cpp
@@ -59,6 +59,14 @@ bool LayerManagerDialogModel::deleteLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* er
 	return true;
 }
 
+bool LayerManagerDialogModel::renameLayer(const SCP_string& oldName, const SCP_string& newName, SCP_string* error) {
+	if (!_viewport->renameLayer(oldName, newName, error)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	modelChanged();
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool LayerManagerDialogModel::isDefaultLayer(const SCP_string& name) {
 	return name == EditorViewport::DefaultLayerName;
 }
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.h b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.h
index 4409fd2e012..5891216630c 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.h
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/LayerManagerDialogModel.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class LayerManagerDialogModel : public AbstractDialogModel {
 	bool setLayerVisibility(const SCP_string& name, bool visible, SCP_string* error);
 	bool addLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* error);
 	bool deleteLayer(const SCP_string& name, SCP_string* error);
+	bool renameLayer(const SCP_string& oldName, const SCP_string& newName, SCP_string* error);
 	static bool isDefaultLayer(const SCP_string& name);
 
 	// Object type filters
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.cpp b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.cpp
index 33e4ec58f39..cb3837f1504 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.cpp
@@ -195,6 +195,18 @@ void SceneBrowserModel::toggleLayerVisibility(const QString& layerName)
 	// setLayerVisibility calls editor->notifyLayerVisibilityChanged() → onLayerVisibilityChanged()
 }
 
+bool SceneBrowserModel::renameLayer(const QString& oldName, const QString& newName, SCP_string* error)
+{
+	// renameLayer fires editor->notifyLayerStructureChanged() → onLayerStructureChanged(),
+	// which rebuilds the tree, so there is nothing extra to do on success here.
+	return _viewport->renameLayer(oldName.toUtf8().constData(), newName.toUtf8().constData(), error);
+}
+
+bool SceneBrowserModel::isDefaultLayer(const QString& name)
+{
+	return name.toUtf8().constData() == SCP_string(EditorViewport::DefaultLayerName);
+}
+
 void SceneBrowserModel::moveObjectToLayer(int objNum, const QString& layerName)
 {
 	// Single inline call: temporary QByteArray lives until end of full expression — safe.
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.h b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.h
index 5f055a99dc5..a54206e7025 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.h
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ class SceneBrowserModel : public AbstractDialogModel {
 	QVector<QString> getLayerNames() const;
 
 	void toggleLayerVisibility(const QString& layerName);
+	bool renameLayer(const QString& oldName, const QString& newName, SCP_string* error);
+	static bool isDefaultLayer(const QString& name);
 	void moveObjectToLayer(int objNum, const QString& layerName);
 	void moveWingToLayer(int wingIndex, const QString& layerName);
 	void moveWaypointPathToLayer(int waypointListIndex, const QString& layerName);
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/FredView.cpp b/qtfred/src/ui/FredView.cpp
index 3080f68a8a7..375c6688ae6 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/FredView.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/FredView.cpp
@@ -2117,8 +2117,11 @@ void FredView::populateMoveToLayerMenu(int targetObject, QMenu* targetMenu) {
 		_viewport->getLayerVisibility(layerName, &visible);
 
 		auto* layerAction = new QAction(QString::fromStdString(layerName), dest);
-		layerAction->setCheckable(true);
-		layerAction->setChecked(_viewport->getObjectLayerName(targetObject) == layerName);
+		if (_viewport->getObjectLayerName(targetObject) == layerName) {
+			auto font = layerAction->font();
+			font.setBold(true);
+			layerAction->setFont(font);
+		}
 		layerAction->setEnabled(visible);
 
 		connect(layerAction, &QAction::triggered, this, [this, layerName, targetObject]() {
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.cpp b/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.cpp
index 8d1a9ca3138..570ce5e259a 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.cpp
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ void LayerManagerDialog::updateUi() {
 
 	_refreshing = false;
 
-	// Update delete button based on selection
-	ui->deleteLayerButton->setEnabled(ui->layerList->currentRow() > 0);
+	// Update rename/delete buttons based on selection (row 0 is the default layer)
+	const bool nonDefaultSelected = ui->layerList->currentRow() > 0;
+	ui->renameLayerButton->setEnabled(nonDefaultSelected);
+	ui->deleteLayerButton->setEnabled(nonDefaultSelected);
 }
 
 void LayerManagerDialog::on_addLayerButton_clicked() {
@@ -106,6 +108,42 @@ void LayerManagerDialog::on_addLayerButton_clicked() {
 	}
 }
 
+void LayerManagerDialog::on_renameLayerButton_clicked() {
+	auto* item = ui->layerList->currentItem();
+	if (item == nullptr) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const QString oldName = item->text();
+	if (_model->isDefaultLayer(oldName.toUtf8().constData())) {
+		QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Layer Error"), tr("The default layer cannot be renamed."));
+		return;
+	}
+
+	bool ok = false;
+	auto newName = QInputDialog::getText(this, tr("Rename Layer"), tr("Layer name:"), QLineEdit::Normal, oldName, &ok).trimmed();
+	if (!ok || newName == oldName) {
+		if (ok && newName.isEmpty()) {
+			QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Layer Error"), tr("Layer name cannot be empty."));
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+
+	SCP_string error;
+	if (!_model->renameLayer(oldName.toUtf8().constData(), newName.toUtf8().constData(), &error)) {
+		QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Layer Error"), QString::fromStdString(error));
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// Keep the renamed layer selected
+	for (int i = 0; i < ui->layerList->count(); ++i) {
+		if (ui->layerList->item(i)->text() == newName) {
+			ui->layerList->setCurrentRow(i);
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void LayerManagerDialog::on_deleteLayerButton_clicked() {
 	auto* item = ui->layerList->currentItem();
 	if (item == nullptr) {
@@ -125,6 +163,7 @@ void LayerManagerDialog::on_deleteLayerButton_clicked() {
 }
 
 void LayerManagerDialog::on_layerList_currentRowChanged(int row) {
+	ui->renameLayerButton->setEnabled(row > 0);
 	ui->deleteLayerButton->setEnabled(row > 0);
 }
 
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.h b/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.h
index a65ae96d897..6a39cf375f3 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.h
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/dialogs/LayerManagerDialog.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class LayerManagerDialog final : public QDialog {
 
 private slots:
 	void on_addLayerButton_clicked();
+	void on_renameLayerButton_clicked();
 	void on_deleteLayerButton_clicked();
 	void on_layerList_currentRowChanged(int row);
 	void on_layerList_itemChanged(QListWidgetItem* item);
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.cpp b/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.cpp
index bd736ac110d..7f18210bd65 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@
 #include <mission/dialogs/SceneBrowserModel.h>
 #include <ui/FredView.h>
 
+#include <QInputDialog>
 #include <QLayout>
 #include <QMenu>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 
 namespace fso::fred {
 
@@ -410,12 +412,24 @@ void SceneBrowserPanel::onCustomContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& pos)
 	auto* item = _tree->itemAt(pos);
 	if (!item) return;
 
-	// Don't show a context menu for layer header items or category items
+	const auto globalPos = _tree->viewport()->mapToGlobal(pos);
+
+	// Layer header item: offer a small menu to rename the layer
 	auto varLayer = item->data(0, IsLayerItemRole);
-	if (!varLayer.isNull()) return;
-	if (item->flags() == Qt::ItemIsEnabled) return;  // category item
+	if (!varLayer.isNull()) {
+		const auto layerName = item->data(0, LayerNameRole).toString();
+
+		QMenu menu;
+		auto* renameAction = menu.addAction(tr("Rename Layer"));
+		renameAction->setEnabled(!dialogs::SceneBrowserModel::isDefaultLayer(layerName));
+		if (menu.exec(globalPos) == renameAction) {
+			renameLayer(layerName);
+		}
+		return;
+	}
 
-	const auto globalPos = _tree->viewport()->mapToGlobal(pos);
+	// Category items are not actionable
+	if (item->flags() == Qt::ItemIsEnabled) return;  // category item
 
 	auto varObjNum = item->data(0, ObjNumRole);
 	auto varWing = item->data(0, WingIndexRole);
@@ -431,6 +445,24 @@ void SceneBrowserPanel::onCustomContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& pos)
 	}
 }
 
+void SceneBrowserPanel::renameLayer(const QString& layerName)
+{
+	bool ok = false;
+	const auto newName = QInputDialog::getText(this, tr("Rename Layer"), tr("Layer name:"),
+		QLineEdit::Normal, layerName, &ok).trimmed();
+	if (!ok || newName == layerName) {
+		if (ok && newName.isEmpty()) {
+			QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Layer Error"), tr("Layer name cannot be empty."));
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+
+	SCP_string error;
+	if (!_model->renameLayer(layerName, newName, &error)) {
+		QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Layer Error"), QString::fromStdString(error));
+	}
+}
+
 void SceneBrowserPanel::onSearchTextChanged(const QString& text)
 {
 	_model->setNameFilter(text);
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.h b/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.h
index f19ae50cdb0..de65b1571b1 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.h
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/panels/SceneBrowserPanel.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ private slots:
 
 private: // NOLINT(readability-redundant-access-specifiers)
 	void rebuildTree();
+	void renameLayer(const QString& layerName);
 	void updateFloatingMargins(bool floating);
 	void rememberExpansionState();
 	bool expandedStateOrDefault(const QString& key, bool defaultExpanded) const;
diff --git a/qtfred/ui/LayerManagerDialog.ui b/qtfred/ui/LayerManagerDialog.ui
index e79c8f9c39a..1eabf4698d9 100644
--- a/qtfred/ui/LayerManagerDialog.ui
+++ b/qtfred/ui/LayerManagerDialog.ui
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@
            </property>
           </widget>
          </item>
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QPushButton" name="renameLayerButton">
+           <property name="text">
+            <string>Rename Layer</string>
+           </property>
+          </widget>
+         </item>
          <item>
           <widget class="QPushButton" name="deleteLayerButton">
            <property name="text">