System and method for aiding file searching and file serving by indexing historical filenames and locations

A system, method, and computer-implementable method for aiding file searching within a file service by indexing historical filenames and locations. In response to receiving a request to alter a first name corresponding to a file within the file system to a second name, a file system manager associates the second name to the first name and to the file within the file system data structure. When receiving a request for a file, wherein the request includes the first name, the file system manager searches the file system for the file based on the first name. When determining the search based on the first name is not successful, the file system manager searches the file system data structure for the file based on the second name. When the second name is located within the file system data structure, the file system manager returns the file to fulfill the request.