I used the following script to rename the default post type:
function change_post_menu_label() {
global $menu, $submenu;
$menu[5][0] = 'Portfolio';
$submenu['edit.php'][5][0] = 'Portfolio';
$submenu['edit.php'][10][0] = 'New Portfolio';
$submenu['edit.php'][16][0] = 'Portfolio Tags';
echo '';
}
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'change_post_menu_label' );
function change_post_object_label() {
global $wp_post_types;
$labels = &$wp_post_types['post']->labels;
$labels->name="Portfolio";
$labels->singular_name="Portfolio";
$labels->add_new = 'New Portfolio';
$labels->add_new_item = 'New Portfolio';
$labels->edit_item = 'Edit Portfolio';
$labels->new_item = 'New Portfolio';
$labels->view_item = 'View Portfolio';
$labels->search_items="Search Portfolio";
$labels->not_found = 'Not found';
$labels->not_found_in_trash="Not found in trash";
}
add_action( 'init', 'change_post_object_label' );