renames stuff to black kites' naming conventions

 # =======================================================

# Maya Python Script

# Rename Selected Objects

# BaseName_0001_Suffix

#

# Example:

# SM_Chair_0001_GEO

# SM_Chair_0002_GEO

# SM_Chair_0003_GEO

#

# Automatically increments if names already exist

# =======================================================

import maya.cmds as cmds

# -------------------------------------------------------

# Find Next Available Number

# -------------------------------------------------------

def get_next_available_name(base_name, suffix):

    number = 1

    while True:

        # Format number as 4 digits

        number_str = str(number).zfill(4)

        # Build name

        new_name = "{}_{}_{}".format(

            base_name,

            number_str,

            suffix

        )

        # Check if object already exists

        if not cmds.objExists(new_name):

            return new_name

        number += 1

# -------------------------------------------------------

# Rename Logic

# -------------------------------------------------------

def rename_objects_execute(*args):

    # Get selected transforms

    sel = cmds.ls(selection=True, type="transform")

    if not sel:

        cmds.warning("Please select one or more transform nodes.")

        return

    # Get UI values

    base_name = cmds.textField(

        "baseNameField",

        q=True,

        text=True

    ).strip()

    suffix = cmds.textField(

        "suffixField",

        q=True,

        text=True

    ).strip()

    # Validation

    if not base_name:

        cmds.warning("Please enter a base name.")

        return

    if not suffix:

        cmds.warning("Please enter a suffix.")

        return

    renamed_count = 0

    # Rename all selected objects

    for obj in sel:

        # Get unique name

        new_name = get_next_available_name(

            base_name,

            suffix

        )

        # Rename

        renamed = cmds.rename(obj, new_name)

        print(

            'Renamed: {} -> {}'.format(obj, renamed)

        )

        renamed_count += 1

    print(

        "\nFinished. {} object(s) renamed.\n".format(

            renamed_count

        )

    )

# -------------------------------------------------------

# UI

# -------------------------------------------------------

def rename_tool_ui():

    window_name = "renameWithNumbersToolWin"

    # Delete existing window

    if cmds.window(window_name, exists=True):

        cmds.deleteUI(window_name)

    # Create window

    cmds.window(

        window_name,

        title="Rename With Incrementing Numbers",

        widthHeight=(420, 180)

    )

    cmds.columnLayout(

        adjustableColumn=True,

        rowSpacing=10

    )

    cmds.text(

        label="Rename Selected Transform Nodes"

    )

    cmds.separator(style="in")

    # Base name

    cmds.text(

        label="Base Name:",

        align="left"

    )

    cmds.textField("baseNameField")

    # Suffix

    cmds.text(

        label="Suffix:",

        align="left"

    )

    cmds.textField("suffixField")

    cmds.separator(style="in")

    # Execute button

    cmds.button(

        label="Rename Objects",

        height=40,

        command=rename_objects_execute

    )

    cmds.showWindow(window_name)

# -------------------------------------------------------

# Launch

# -------------------------------------------------------

rename_tool_ui()

python script to remove a string

insert string before string, Python script for Maya

generated through ChatGPT.. mel solutions seemed broken.
This will make a popup window, you put in your desired string and the one you want to put it in front of. Whatever you have selected gets processed

# =======================================================

# Maya Python Script

# Insert String BEFORE Another String

# on Multiple Selected Transform Nodes

# =======================================================

import maya.cmds as cmds

# -------------------------------------------------------

# Rename Logic

# -------------------------------------------------------

def insert_before_rename_execute(*args):

    # Get selected transforms

    sel = cmds.ls(selection=True, type="transform")

    if not sel:

        cmds.warning("Please select one or more transform nodes.")

        return

    # Get UI values

    insert_str = cmds.textField(

        "insertStringField",

        q=True,

        text=True

    )

    before_str = cmds.textField(

        "beforeStringField",

        q=True,

        text=True

    )

    # Validation

    if not before_str:

        cmds.warning("Please enter a target string.")

        return

    renamed_count = 0

    # Process all selected objects

    for obj in sel:

        # Skip objects that don't contain target string

        if before_str not in obj:

            print(

                'Skipped "{}" (target string not found)'.format(obj)

            )

            continue

        # Find insertion point

        index = obj.find(before_str)

        # Build new name

        new_name = (

            obj[:index] +

            insert_str +

            obj[index:]

        )

        # Rename object

        renamed = cmds.rename(obj, new_name)

        print(

            'Renamed: {} -> {}'.format(obj, renamed)

        )

        renamed_count += 1

    print(

        "\nFinished. {} object(s) renamed.\n".format(

            renamed_count

        )

    )

# -------------------------------------------------------

# UI

# -------------------------------------------------------

def insert_before_tool_ui():

    window_name = "insertBeforeToolWin"

    # Delete existing window

    if cmds.window(window_name, exists=True):

        cmds.deleteUI(window_name)

    # Create window

    cmds.window(

        window_name,

        title="Insert String Before",

        widthHeight=(400, 180)

    )

    cmds.columnLayout(

        adjustableColumn=True,

        rowSpacing=10

    )

    cmds.text(

        label="Rename Selected Transform Nodes"

    )

    cmds.separator(style="in")

    # Insert string

    cmds.text(

        label="String To Insert:",

        align="left"

    )

    cmds.textField("insertStringField")

    # Before string

    cmds.text(

        label="Insert BEFORE This String:",

        align="left"

    )

    cmds.textField("beforeStringField")

    cmds.separator(style="in")

    # Execute button

    cmds.button(

        label="Rename Selected Objects",

        height=40,

        command=insert_before_rename_execute

    )

    cmds.showWindow(window_name)

# -------------------------------------------------------

# Launch

# -------------------------------------------------------

insert_before_tool_ui()