How can I change some, but not all, column names when using pd.read_excel?

At this point, vanilla pd.read_excel will only allow you to rename all columns with parameter "names". You can pass a List of column names to the function. If all column names are known, replace the ones you want to rename and keep the other names in the list the same, so that they don't change in the process of creating your dataframe:

import pandas as pd

colnames = ['Col1', 'Col2','Col3']

xldf = pd.read_excel(r'YourPath\test.xlsx', names= colnames)

To rename specific columns, you can use the following syntax after you have created your dataframe out of your Excel document:

xldf.rename(columns={'Col1':'NewCol1'}, inplace=True)

If you want it all in one function call, you can combine the two ideas and write your own pd.read_excel "extension". This one uses a List of column names and the indexes to read in the .csv file and renames them in one function:

import pandas as pd
path = r'YourPath\test.xlsx'

   def readWithOwnNames(path,indexes,names):
   xlpd =pd.read_excel(path)
   xlpd.columns.values[indexes] = names
   return xlpd

 df = readWithOwnNames(path,[0,1,2],['Col1', 'Col2','Col3'])

A Dictionary would also be an option if you prefer that as your input:

import pandas as pd
path = r'YourPath\test.xlsx'

def readWithOwnNames(path,dict):
    xlpd =pd.read_excel(path)
    for i in dict:
        xlpd.columns.values[i] = dict[0]

    return xlpd

df = readWithOwnNames(path,{0: "Col1", 1: "Col2", 2: "Col3"})