diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_deform.h b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_deform.h
index 0e18683e7b7..2e554246ff6 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_deform.h
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_deform.h
@@ -40,21 +40,24 @@ struct ListBase;
 struct bDeformGroup;
 struct MDeformVert;
 
-void copy_defgroups (struct ListBase *lb1, struct ListBase *lb2);
-struct bDeformGroup *copy_defgroup (struct bDeformGroup *ingroup);
-struct bDeformGroup *get_named_vertexgroup (Object *ob, char *name);
-int get_defgroup_num (struct Object *ob, struct bDeformGroup *dg);
-int *get_defgroup_flip_map(struct Object *ob);
-int get_named_vertexgroup_num (Object *ob, const char *name);
-void unique_vertexgroup_name (struct bDeformGroup *dg, struct Object *ob);
-void flip_vertexgroup_name (char *name, const char *from_name, int strip_number);
+void				 defgroup_copy_list(struct ListBase *lb1, struct ListBase *lb2);
+struct bDeformGroup *defgroup_duplicate(struct bDeformGroup *ingroup);
+struct bDeformGroup *defgroup_find_name(Object *ob, char *name);
+int					 defgroup_find_index(struct Object *ob, struct bDeformGroup *dg);
+int					*defgroup_flip_map(struct Object *ob);
+int					 defgroup_name_index(Object *ob, const char *name);
+void				 defgroup_unique_name(struct bDeformGroup *dg, struct Object *ob);
 
-float deformvert_get_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int group_num);
-float vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int index, int group_num);
+float defvert_find_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int group_num);
+float defvert_find_weight_safe(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int index, int group_num);
 
-void copy_defvert (struct MDeformVert *dvert_r, const struct MDeformVert *dvert);
-void flip_defvert (struct MDeformVert *dvert, int *flip_map);
-void normalize_defvert (struct MDeformVert *dvert);
+void defvert_copy(struct MDeformVert *dvert_r, const struct MDeformVert *dvert);
+void defvert_flip(struct MDeformVert *dvert, int *flip_map);
+void defvert_normalize(struct MDeformVert *dvert);
+
+/* utility function, note that 32 chars is the maximum string length since its only
+ * used with defgroups currently */
+void flip_side_name(char *name, const char *from_name, int strip_number);
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/constraint.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/constraint.c
index 5338f1c96ba..026cc899aad 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/constraint.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/constraint.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ static void contarget_get_mesh_mat (Scene *scene, Object *ob, char *substring, f
 	copy_m4_m4(mat, ob->obmat);
 	
 	/* get index of vertex group */
-	dgroup = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, substring);
+	dgroup = defgroup_name_index(ob, substring);
 	if (dgroup < 0) return;
 	
 	/* get DerivedMesh */
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ static void contarget_get_lattice_mat (Object *ob, char *substring, float mat[][
 	copy_m4_m4(mat, ob->obmat);
 	
 	/* get index of vertex group */
-	dgroup = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, substring);
+	dgroup = defgroup_name_index(ob, substring);
 	if (dgroup < 0) return;
 	if (dvert == NULL) return;
 	
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/deform.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/deform.c
index 0dded6e3360..69a10768477 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/deform.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/deform.c
@@ -67,19 +67,19 @@
 #endif
 
 
-void copy_defgroups (ListBase *outbase, ListBase *inbase)
+void defgroup_copy_list (ListBase *outbase, ListBase *inbase)
 {
 	bDeformGroup *defgroup, *defgroupn;
 
 	outbase->first= outbase->last= 0;
 
 	for (defgroup = inbase->first; defgroup; defgroup=defgroup->next){
-		defgroupn= copy_defgroup(defgroup);
+		defgroupn= defgroup_duplicate(defgroup);
 		BLI_addtail(outbase, defgroupn);
 	}
 }
 
-bDeformGroup *copy_defgroup (bDeformGroup *ingroup)
+bDeformGroup *defgroup_duplicate (bDeformGroup *ingroup)
 {
 	bDeformGroup *outgroup;
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ bDeformGroup *copy_defgroup (bDeformGroup *ingroup)
 	return outgroup;
 }
 
-void copy_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert_r, const MDeformVert *dvert)
+void defvert_copy (MDeformVert *dvert_r, const MDeformVert *dvert)
 {
 	if(dvert_r->totweight == dvert->totweight) {
 		if(dvert->totweight)
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void copy_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert_r, const MDeformVert *dvert)
 	}
 }
 
-void normalize_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert)
+void defvert_normalize (MDeformVert *dvert)
 {
 	if(dvert->totweight<=0) {
 		/* nothing */
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void normalize_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert)
 	}
 }
 
-void flip_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert, int *flip_map)
+void defvert_flip (MDeformVert *dvert, int *flip_map)
 {
 	MDeformWeight *dw;
 	int i;
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ void flip_defvert (MDeformVert *dvert, int *flip_map)
 }
 
 
-bDeformGroup *get_named_vertexgroup (Object *ob, char *name)
+bDeformGroup *defgroup_find_name (Object *ob, char *name)
 {
 	/* return a pointer to the deform group with this name
 	 * or return NULL otherwise.
@@ -163,11 +163,11 @@ bDeformGroup *get_named_vertexgroup (Object *ob, char *name)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-int get_named_vertexgroup_num (Object *ob, const char *name)
+int defgroup_name_index (Object *ob, const char *name)
 {
 	/* Return the location of the named deform group within the list of
-	 * deform groups. This function is a combination of get_defgroup_num and
-	 * get_named_vertexgroup. The other two could be called instead, but that
+	 * deform groups. This function is a combination of defgroup_find_index and
+	 * defgroup_find_name. The other two could be called instead, but that
 	 * require looping over the vertexgroups twice.
 	 */
 	bDeformGroup *curdef;
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ int get_named_vertexgroup_num (Object *ob, const char *name)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-int get_defgroup_num (Object *ob, bDeformGroup *dg)
+int defgroup_find_index (Object *ob, bDeformGroup *dg)
 {
 	/* Fetch the location of this deform group
 	 * within the linked list of deform groups.
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ int get_defgroup_num (Object *ob, bDeformGroup *dg)
 }
 
 /* note, must be freed */
-int *get_defgroup_flip_map(Object *ob)
+int *defgroup_flip_map(Object *ob)
 {
 	bDeformGroup *dg;
 	int totdg= BLI_countlist(&ob->defbase);
@@ -240,9 +240,9 @@ int *get_defgroup_flip_map(Object *ob)
 
 		for (dg=ob->defbase.first, i=0; dg; dg=dg->next, i++) {
 			if(map[i] == -1) { /* may be calculated previously */
-				flip_vertexgroup_name(name, dg->name, 0);
+				flip_side_name(name, dg->name, 0);
 				if(strcmp(name, dg->name)) {
-					flip_num= get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, name);
+					flip_num= defgroup_name_index(ob, name);
 					if(flip_num > -1) {
 						map[i]= flip_num;
 						map[flip_num]= i; /* save an extra lookup */
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ int *get_defgroup_flip_map(Object *ob)
 	}
 }
 
-void unique_vertexgroup_name (bDeformGroup *dg, Object *ob)
+void defgroup_unique_name (bDeformGroup *dg, Object *ob)
 {
 	bDeformGroup *curdef;
 	int number;
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ void unique_vertexgroup_name (bDeformGroup *dg, Object *ob)
 
 /* finds the best possible flipped name. For renaming; check for unique names afterwards */
 /* if strip_number: removes number extensions */
-void flip_vertexgroup_name (char *name, const char *from_name, int strip_number)
+void flip_side_name (char *name, const char *from_name, int strip_number)
 {
 	int     len;
 	char    prefix[sizeof((bDeformGroup *)NULL)->name]={""};   /* The part before the facing */
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ void flip_vertexgroup_name (char *name, const char *from_name, int strip_number)
 
 
 
-float deformvert_get_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int group_num)
+float defvert_find_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int group_num)
 {
 	if(dvert)
 	{
@@ -441,11 +441,11 @@ float deformvert_get_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int group_num)
 	return 0.0;
 }
 
-float vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int index, int group_num)
+float defvert_find_weight_safe(const struct MDeformVert *dvert, int index, int group_num)
 {
 	if(group_num == -1 || dvert == NULL)
 		return 1.0;
 
-	return deformvert_get_weight(dvert+index, group_num);
+	return defvert_find_weight(dvert+index, group_num);
 }
 
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
index e06a5eb7cf8..e2ca0667b90 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ static DerivedMesh *maskModifier_applyModifier(ModifierData *md, Object *ob,
 	}
 	else		/* --- Using Nominated VertexGroup only --- */ 
 	{
-		int defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, mmd->vgroup);
+		int defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, mmd->vgroup);
 		
 		/* get dverts */
 		if (defgrp_index >= 0)
@@ -1812,7 +1812,7 @@ static DerivedMesh *doMirrorOnAxis(MirrorModifierData *mmd,
 
 
 	if (do_vgroup_mirr) {
-		flip_map= get_defgroup_flip_map(ob);
+		flip_map= defgroup_flip_map(ob);
 		if(flip_map == NULL)
 			do_vgroup_mirr= 0;
 	}
@@ -1874,7 +1874,7 @@ static DerivedMesh *doMirrorOnAxis(MirrorModifierData *mmd,
 			if (do_vgroup_mirr) {
 				MDeformVert *dvert= DM_get_vert_data(result, numVerts, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
 				if(dvert) {
-					flip_defvert(dvert, flip_map);
+					defvert_flip(dvert, flip_map);
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -3298,7 +3298,7 @@ static DerivedMesh *bevelModifier_applyModifier(
 	options = bmd->flags|bmd->val_flags|bmd->lim_flags|bmd->e_flags;
 
 	/*if ((options & BME_BEVEL_VWEIGHT) && bmd->defgrp_name[0]) {
-		defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, bmd->defgrp_name);
+		defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, bmd->defgrp_name);
 		if (defgrp_index < 0) {
 			options &= ~BME_BEVEL_VWEIGHT;
 		}
@@ -3553,7 +3553,7 @@ static void displaceModifier_do(
 
 	if(!dmd->texture) return;
 
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, dmd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, dmd->defgrp_name);
 
 	mvert = CDDM_get_verts(dm);
 	if(defgrp_index >= 0)
@@ -4169,7 +4169,7 @@ static void smoothModifier_do(
 	medges = dm->getEdgeArray(dm);
 	numDMEdges = dm->getNumEdges(dm);
 
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, smd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, smd->defgrp_name);
 
 	if (defgrp_index >= 0)
 		dvert = dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
@@ -4424,7 +4424,7 @@ static void castModifier_sphere_do(
 
 	/* 3) if we were given a vertex group name,
 	* only those vertices should be affected */
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, cmd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, cmd->defgrp_name);
 
 	if ((ob->type == OB_MESH) && dm && defgrp_index >= 0)
 		dvert = dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
@@ -4582,7 +4582,7 @@ static void castModifier_cuboid_do(
 
 	/* 3) if we were given a vertex group name,
 	* only those vertices should be affected */
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, cmd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, cmd->defgrp_name);
 
 	if ((ob->type == OB_MESH) && dm && defgrp_index >= 0)
 		dvert = dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
@@ -5080,7 +5080,7 @@ static void waveModifier_do(WaveModifierData *md,
 	}
 
 	/* get the index of the deform group */
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, wmd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, wmd->defgrp_name);
 
 	if(defgrp_index >= 0){
 		dvert = dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
@@ -5511,7 +5511,7 @@ static void hookModifier_deformVerts(
 		Mesh *me = ob->data;
 		int use_dverts = 0;
 		int maxVerts = 0;
-		int defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, hmd->name);
+		int defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, hmd->name);
 
 		if(dm) {
 			if(dm->getVertData(dm, 0, CD_MDEFORMVERT)) {
@@ -7123,7 +7123,7 @@ static void explodeModifier_createFacepa(ExplodeModifierData *emd,
 			for(i=0; i<totvert; i++){
 				val = BLI_frand();
 				val = (1.0f-emd->protect)*val + emd->protect*0.5f;
-				if(val < deformvert_get_weight(dvert+i,emd->vgroup-1))
+				if(val < defvert_find_weight(dvert+i,emd->vgroup-1))
 					vertpa[i] = -1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -8164,7 +8164,7 @@ static void meshdeformModifier_do(
 			VECCOPY(dco[a], co)
 	}
 
-	defgrp_index = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, mmd->defgrp_name);
+	defgrp_index = defgroup_name_index(ob, mmd->defgrp_name);
 
 	if (defgrp_index >= 0)
 		dvert= dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
index 1063fa85e1f..ef967ef0060 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ Object *copy_object(Object *ob)
 		if(ob->type==OB_ARMATURE)
 			armature_rebuild_pose(obn, obn->data);
 	}
-	copy_defgroups(&obn->defbase, &ob->defbase);
+	defgroup_copy_list(&obn->defbase, &ob->defbase);
 	copy_constraints(&obn->constraints, &ob->constraints);
 
 	obn->mode = 0;
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/shrinkwrap.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/shrinkwrap.c
index c9bf29ed29c..d5515470d05 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/shrinkwrap.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/shrinkwrap.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static void shrinkwrap_calc_nearest_vertex(ShrinkwrapCalcData *calc)
 	{
 		float *co = calc->vertexCos[i];
 		float tmp_co[3];
-		float weight = vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
+		float weight = defvert_find_weight_safe(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
 		if(weight == 0.0f) continue;
 
 
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ static void shrinkwrap_calc_normal_projection(ShrinkwrapCalcData *calc, struct S
 		{
 			float *co = calc->vertexCos[i];
 			float tmp_co[3], tmp_no[3];
-			float weight = vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
+			float weight = defvert_find_weight_safe(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
 
 			if(weight == 0.0f) continue;
 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ static void shrinkwrap_calc_nearest_surface_point(ShrinkwrapCalcData *calc)
 	{
 		float *co = calc->vertexCos[i];
 		float tmp_co[3];
-		float weight = vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
+		float weight = defvert_find_weight_safe(calc->dvert, i, calc->vgroup);
 		if(weight == 0.0f) continue;
 
 		//Convert the vertex to tree coordinates
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ void shrinkwrapModifier_deform(ShrinkwrapModifierData *smd, Scene *scene, Object
 	calc.vertexCos = vertexCos;
 
 	//DeformVertex
-	calc.vgroup = get_named_vertexgroup_num(calc.ob, calc.smd->vgroup_name);
+	calc.vgroup = defgroup_name_index(calc.ob, calc.smd->vgroup_name);
 	if(dm)
 	{
 		calc.dvert = dm->getVertDataArray(dm, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ void shrinkwrapModifier_deform(ShrinkwrapModifierData *smd, Scene *scene, Object
 
 
 
-	calc.vgroup = get_named_vertexgroup_num(calc.ob, smd->vgroup_name);
+	calc.vgroup = defgroup_name_index(calc.ob, smd->vgroup_name);
 
 	if(dm != NULL && smd->shrinkType == MOD_SHRINKWRAP_PROJECT)
 	{
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/simple_deform.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/simple_deform.c
index b2920615f5a..7ae09df3561 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/simple_deform.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/simple_deform.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void SimpleDeformModifier_do(SimpleDeformModifierData *smd, struct Object *ob, s
 	float smd_limit[2], smd_factor;
 	SpaceTransform *transf = NULL, tmp_transf;
 	void (*simpleDeform_callback)(const float factor, const float dcut[3], float *co) = NULL;	//Mode callback
-	int vgroup = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, smd->vgroup_name);
+	int vgroup = defgroup_name_index(ob, smd->vgroup_name);
 	MDeformVert *dvert = NULL;
 
 	//Safe-check
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ void SimpleDeformModifier_do(SimpleDeformModifierData *smd, struct Object *ob, s
 
 	for(i=0; i<numVerts; i++)
 	{
-		float weight = vertexgroup_get_vertex_weight(dvert, i, vgroup);
+		float weight = defvert_find_weight_safe(dvert, i, vgroup);
 
 		if(weight != 0.0f)
 		{
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/softbody.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/softbody.c
index 54cd8691e79..a1e3dd6f963 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/softbody.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/softbody.c
@@ -3267,7 +3267,7 @@ static void mesh_to_softbody(Scene *scene, Object *ob)
 
 		if (sb->namedVG_Mass[0])
 		{
-			int grp= get_named_vertexgroup_num (ob,sb->namedVG_Mass);
+			int grp= defgroup_name_index (ob,sb->namedVG_Mass);
 			/* printf("VGN  %s %d \n",sb->namedVG_Mass,grp); */
 			if(grp > -1){
 				get_scalar_from_vertexgroup(ob, a,(short) (grp), &bp->mass);
@@ -3281,7 +3281,7 @@ static void mesh_to_softbody(Scene *scene, Object *ob)
 
 		if (sb->namedVG_Spring_K[0])
 		{
-			int grp= get_named_vertexgroup_num (ob,sb->namedVG_Spring_K);
+			int grp= defgroup_name_index (ob,sb->namedVG_Spring_K);
 			//printf("VGN  %s %d \n",sb->namedVG_Spring_K,grp); 
 			if(grp > -1){
 				get_scalar_from_vertexgroup(ob, a,(short) (grp), &bp->springweight);
diff --git a/source/blender/blenloader/intern/readfile.c b/source/blender/blenloader/intern/readfile.c
index 46051555a81..5c09f866b3a 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenloader/intern/readfile.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenloader/intern/readfile.c
@@ -7813,10 +7813,10 @@ static void do_versions(FileData *fd, Library *lib, Main *main)
 				}
 			}
 			if(ob->soft && ob->soft->vertgroup==0) {
-				bDeformGroup *locGroup = get_named_vertexgroup(ob, "SOFTGOAL");
+				bDeformGroup *locGroup = defgroup_find_name(ob, "SOFTGOAL");
 				if(locGroup){
 					/* retrieve index for that group */
-					ob->soft->vertgroup =  1 + get_defgroup_num(ob, locGroup); 
+					ob->soft->vertgroup =  1 + defgroup_find_index(ob, locGroup); 
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -8502,7 +8502,7 @@ static void do_versions(FileData *fd, Library *lib, Main *main)
 			for(curdef= ob->defbase.first; curdef; curdef=curdef->next) {
 				/* replace an empty-string name with unique name */
 				if (curdef->name[0] == '\0') {
-					unique_vertexgroup_name(curdef, ob);
+					defgroup_unique_name(curdef, ob);
 				}
 			}
 
diff --git a/source/blender/collada/DocumentImporter.cpp b/source/blender/collada/DocumentImporter.cpp
index 26e95c378a6..39424797df6 100644
--- a/source/blender/collada/DocumentImporter.cpp
+++ b/source/blender/collada/DocumentImporter.cpp
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ public:
 		// at this stage we get vertex influence info that should go into me->verts and ob->defbase
 		// there's no info to which object this should be long so we associate it with skin controller data UID
 
-		// don't forget to call unique_vertexgroup_name before we copy
+		// don't forget to call defgroup_unique_name before we copy
 
 		// controller data uid -> [armature] -> joint data, 
 		// [mesh object]
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/armature/editarmature.c b/source/blender/editors/armature/editarmature.c
index b2e193ebf71..496e9a0d4d7 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/armature/editarmature.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/armature/editarmature.c
@@ -4489,7 +4489,7 @@ static int ED_vgroup_add_unique_bone(Object *ob, Bone *bone, void *data)
 	 * If such a vertex group aleady exist the routine exits.
       */
 	if (!(bone->flag & BONE_NO_DEFORM)) {
-		if (!get_named_vertexgroup(ob,bone->name)) {
+		if (!defgroup_find_name(ob,bone->name)) {
 			ED_vgroup_add_name(ob, bone->name);
 			return 1;
 		}
@@ -4533,7 +4533,7 @@ static int dgroup_skinnable(Object *ob, Bone *bone, void *datap)
 			else
 				segments = 1;
 			
-			if (!(defgroup = get_named_vertexgroup(ob, bone->name)))
+			if (!(defgroup = defgroup_find_name(ob, bone->name)))
 				defgroup = ED_vgroup_add_name(ob, bone->name);
 			
 			if (data->list != NULL) {
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/object/object_vgroup.c b/source/blender/editors/object/object_vgroup.c
index 9ba1d9c104e..990c609dc06 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/object/object_vgroup.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/object/object_vgroup.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ bDeformGroup *ED_vgroup_add_name(Object *ob, char *name)
 	BLI_strncpy(defgroup->name, name, 32);
 
 	BLI_addtail(&ob->defbase, defgroup);
-	unique_vertexgroup_name(defgroup, ob);
+	defgroup_unique_name(defgroup, ob);
 
 	ob->actdef = BLI_countlist(&ob->defbase);
 
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ void ED_vgroup_vert_add(Object *ob, bDeformGroup *dg, int vertnum, float weight,
 	/* get the deform group number, exit if
 	 * it can't be found
 	 */
-	def_nr = get_defgroup_num(ob, dg);
+	def_nr = defgroup_find_index(ob, dg);
 	if(def_nr < 0) return;
 
 	/* if there's no deform verts then create some,
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ void ED_vgroup_vert_remove(Object *ob, bDeformGroup	*dg, int vertnum)
 	 * to this deform group, and abort if it
 	 * can not be found.
 	 */
-	def_nr = get_defgroup_num(ob, dg);
+	def_nr = defgroup_find_index(ob, dg);
 	if(def_nr < 0) return;
 
 	/* call another routine to do the work
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ float ED_vgroup_vert_weight(Object *ob, bDeformGroup *dg, int vertnum)
 
 	if(!ob) return 0.0f;
 
-	def_nr = get_defgroup_num(ob, dg);
+	def_nr = defgroup_find_index(ob, dg);
 	if(def_nr < 0) return 0.0f;
 
 	return get_vert_def_nr(ob, def_nr, vertnum);
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ static void vgroup_duplicate(Object *ob)
 	}
 	else {
 		BLI_snprintf(name, 32, "%s_copy", dg->name);
-		while(get_named_vertexgroup(ob, name)) {
+		while(defgroup_find_name(ob, name)) {
 			if((strlen(name) + 6) > 32) {
 				if (G.f & G_DEBUG)
 					printf("Internal error: the name for the new vertex group is > 32 characters");
@@ -552,9 +552,9 @@ static void vgroup_duplicate(Object *ob)
 		}
 	}		
 
-	cdg = copy_defgroup(dg);
+	cdg = defgroup_duplicate(dg);
 	strcpy(cdg->name, name);
-	unique_vertexgroup_name(cdg, ob);
+	defgroup_unique_name(cdg, ob);
 	
 	BLI_addtail(&ob->defbase, cdg);
 
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ void ED_vgroup_mirror(Object *ob, int mirror_weights, int flip_vgroups)
 		if(!CustomData_has_layer(&em->vdata, CD_MDEFORMVERT))
 			return;
 
-		flip_map= get_defgroup_flip_map(ob);
+		flip_map= defgroup_flip_map(ob);
 
 		/* Go through the list of editverts and assign them */
 		for(eve=em->verts.first; eve; eve=eve->next){
@@ -937,8 +937,8 @@ void ED_vgroup_mirror(Object *ob, int mirror_weights, int flip_vgroups)
 							if(mirror_weights)
 								SWAP(MDeformVert, *dvert, *dvert_mirr);
 							if(flip_vgroups) {
-								flip_defvert(dvert, flip_map);
-								flip_defvert(dvert_mirr, flip_map);
+								defvert_flip(dvert, flip_map);
+								defvert_flip(dvert_mirr, flip_map);
 							}
 						}
 						else {
@@ -948,9 +948,9 @@ void ED_vgroup_mirror(Object *ob, int mirror_weights, int flip_vgroups)
 							}
 
 							if(mirror_weights)
-								copy_defvert(dvert, dvert_mirr);
+								defvert_copy(dvert, dvert_mirr);
 							if(flip_vgroups) {
-								flip_defvert(dvert, flip_map);
+								defvert_flip(dvert, flip_map);
 							}
 						}
 					}
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.c b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.c
index debdf4a3118..ece08080374 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.c
@@ -1394,11 +1394,11 @@ static int wpaint_stroke_test_start(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, wmEvent *event)
 				bPoseChannel *pchan= get_pose_channel(modob->pose, actbone->name);
 
 				if(pchan) {
-					bDeformGroup *dg= get_named_vertexgroup(ob, pchan->name);
+					bDeformGroup *dg= defgroup_find_name(ob, pchan->name);
 					if(dg==NULL)
 						dg= ED_vgroup_add_name(ob, pchan->name);	/* sets actdef */
 					else
-						ob->actdef= 1 + get_defgroup_num(ob, dg);
+						ob->actdef= 1 + defgroup_find_index(ob, dg);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner.c b/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner.c
index 867ba794da8..84573d44a1d 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner.c
@@ -4773,7 +4773,7 @@ static void namebutton_cb(bContext *C, void *tsep, char *oldname)
 		else {
 			switch(tselem->type) {
 			case TSE_DEFGROUP:
-				unique_vertexgroup_name(te->directdata, (Object *)tselem->id); //	id = object
+				defgroup_unique_name(te->directdata, (Object *)tselem->id); //	id = object
 				break;
 			case TSE_NLA_ACTION:
 				test_idbutton(tselem->id->name+2);
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/view3d_buttons.c b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/view3d_buttons.c
index 74546b57ac7..674f6d23eab 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/view3d_buttons.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/view3d_buttons.c
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ static void vgroup_copy_active_to_sel(Object *ob)
 			if(eve->f & SELECT && eve != eve_act) {
 				dvert= CustomData_em_get(&em->vdata, eve->data, CD_MDEFORMVERT);
 				if(dvert)
-					copy_defvert(dvert, dvert_act);
+					defvert_copy(dvert, dvert_act);
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ static void vgroup_normalize_active(Object *ob)
 	if(dvert_act==NULL)
 		return;
 
-	normalize_defvert(dvert_act);
+	defvert_normalize(dvert_act);
 }
 
 static void do_view3d_vgroup_buttons(bContext *C, void *arg, int event)
diff --git a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object_api.c b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object_api.c
index 6b62a8c7a0b..df4c12edd1d 100644
--- a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object_api.c
+++ b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object_api.c
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ static void rna_Mesh_assign_verts_to_group(Object *ob, bDeformGroup *group, int
 	}
 
 	Mesh *me = (Mesh*)ob->data;
-	int group_index = get_defgroup_num(ob, group);
+	int group_index = defgroup_find_index(ob, group);
 	if (group_index == -1) {
 		BKE_report(reports, RPT_ERROR, "No deform groups assigned to mesh.");
 		return;
diff --git a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_particle.c b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_particle.c
index 344ba7ef064..4cbd2f39bf6 100644
--- a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_particle.c
+++ b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_particle.c
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ static void psys_vg_name_set__internal(PointerRNA *ptr, const char *value, int i
 		psys->vgroup[index]= 0;
 	}
 	else {
-		int vgroup_num = get_named_vertexgroup_num(ob, (char*)value);
+		int vgroup_num = defgroup_name_index(ob, (char*)value);
 
 		if(vgroup_num == -1)
 			return;