Rename helper is a script for 3ds Max built for the multiple renaming of unique objects. The workflow is direct: select some objects in your scene, click the macro, then type and hit return to apply a name. As you go, the currently selected object is displayed with a yellow box around it. Because it handles multiple renaming, it works across a set of selected objects.
The tool comes from developer Chuggnut and is catalogued on scriptspot. This entry covers version 2.3.5.
Rename helper is listed here as free. To download the script and confirm any current licensing terms, visit the developer's page at chuggnut.com. Because it runs as a macro, the whole rename operation comes down to a selection, a click, and typed input followed by return.