relabeling.R

library(dplyr)

df_list <- list(
    mutate(mtcars[1:5, ], jurisdiction = 'New Guernsey'),
    mutate(iris[1:5, ], mean = mean(Sepal.Length)),
    mutate(beaver1[1:5, ], jurisdiction = 'New Guernsey', mean = mean(temp))
)

varlabels <- tribble(~variable, ~new_label,
                     "jurisdiction", "US State",
                     "mean", "Mean (months)")

relabel <- function(df, varlabels) {
    new_labels <- data.frame(variable = colnames(df)) %>% 
        left_join(varlabels, by = 'variable') %>% 
        mutate(labels_to_assign = coalesce(new_label, variable))
    
    colnames(df) <- new_labels$labels_to_assign
    
    df
}

lapply(df_list, relabel, varlabels)