AI-powered alternative name suggestions for variables and other symbols

[iadyo]

What are you proposing?

I'd like to have an AI-powered option to suggest alternative names for variables, structs, functions, and other symbols directly in the editor. The idea is to select a symbol, trigger an action, and get a few naming suggestions based on the surrounding code, without having to open the AI chat or write a prompt.

Why does this matter?

Coming up with good names can be surprisingly difficult, even when you already know exactly what a variable or function does. Sometimes the current name is too generic, and I'd like to see a few alternatives without interrupting my workflow. This would make naming easier and help keep code more readable and consistent.

Are there any examples or context?

For example, given this Rust code:

let data = fetch_user_orders();

AI could suggest names such as orders, user_orders, or fetched_orders, depending on the surrounding code and how the variable is used. I'd like something similar to an inline suggestion popup, where I can quickly browse the alternatives and pick one.

Possible approach

Add an action such as AI: Suggest Names to the editor's context menu, ideally with a keyboard shortcut. The AI could use the selected symbol, its type, and the surrounding code to generate a small list of relevant alternatives. Selecting a suggestion would rename the symbol using the existing LSP rename functionality where available. This could be an on-demand feature, so it wouldn't require additional AI requests while typing.