Rename a git submodule directory

Is there some easy way to rename a git submodule directory (other than going through the entire motion of deleting it and re-adding it with a new destination name).

And while we are at it, why is it that I simply cannot do the following in the parent directory: git mv old-submodule-name new-submodule-name

I found following workflow working:

• Update .gitmodules
• mv oldpath newpath
• git rm oldpath
• git add newpath
• git submodule sync

Note: this approach does not update the index and .gitmodules properly in 2018 versions of GIT.

Note: You may be able to just do git mv oldpath newpath now, as pointed out in VonC's answer. (Ensure you are using the latest version of git)