def _set_names(self, names, level=None, validate=True):
        """
        Set new names on index. Each name has to be a hashable type.

        Parameters
        ----------
        values : str or sequence
            name(s) to set
        level : int, level name, or sequence of int/level names (default None)
            If the index is a MultiIndex (hierarchical), level(s) to set (None
            for all levels).  Otherwise level must be None
        validate : boolean, default True
            validate that the names match level lengths

        Raises
        ------
        TypeError if each name is not hashable.

        Notes
        -----
        sets names on levels. WARNING: mutates!

        Note that you generally want to set this *after* changing levels, so
        that it only acts on copies
        """
        # GH 15110
        # Don't allow a single string for names in a MultiIndex
        if names is not None and not is_list_like(names):
            raise ValueError('Names should be list-like for a MultiIndex')
        names = list(names)

        if validate and level is not None and len(names) != len(level):
            raise ValueError('Length of names must match length of level.')
        if validate and level is None and len(names) != self.nlevels:
            raise ValueError('Length of names must match number of levels in '
                             'MultiIndex.')

        if level is None:
            level = range(self.nlevels)
        else:
            level = [self._get_level_number(l) for l in level]

        # set the name
        for l, name in zip(level, names):
            if name is not None:
                # GH 20527
                # All items in 'names' need to be hashable:
                if not is_hashable(name):
                    raise TypeError('{}.name must be a hashable type'
                                    .format(self.__class__.__name__))
            self.levels[l].rename(name, inplace=True)
Set new names on index. Each name has to be a hashable type.

        Parameters
        ----------
        values : str or sequence
            name(s) to set
        level : int, level name, or sequence of int/level names (default None)
            If the index is a MultiIndex (hierarchical), level(s) to set (None
            for all levels).  Otherwise level must be None
        validate : boolean, default True
            validate that the names match level lengths

        Raises
        ------
        TypeError if each name is not hashable.

        Notes
        -----
        sets names on levels. WARNING: mutates!

        Note that you generally want to set this *after* changing levels, so
        that it only acts on copies