title: How can I rename a buffer to a similar name
body: <p>This happens frequently to me: I am using several <code>M-x shell</code> shells at the same time.  To open the next shell, I have to rename the first one with <code>rename-buffer</code>. However, emacs simply then prompts the new buffer name without permitting me to reusing the existing buffer name to construct a related one like <code>*shell* dist</code> in place of <code>*shell*</code>.  So how can I write the new name without retyping everything?</p>