Question:
Can I rename a SQL column without making a new table or relying on GUI?

Answer:
The ALTER TABLE ALTER COLUMN SYNTAX supports either dropping an existing column or altering the type. But it doesn’t allow you to change the name.

However, another command, sp_rename, will allow you to change the name of a column. It takes three arguments: the name of the object, the new name, and the object type.

Following is an example taken from the Books Online:

B. Rename a columnThis example renames the contact title column in the customers table to title.

EXEC sp_rename 'customers.[contact title]', 'title', 'COLUMN'