diff --git a/scripts/metadata_parser.py b/scripts/metadata_parser.py
index 31078b64..b07fa47a 100755
--- a/scripts/metadata_parser.py
+++ b/scripts/metadata_parser.py
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ def read_new_metadata(filename, module_name, table_name, scheme_name = None, sub
                     container = encode_container(module_name, metadata_section.title)
 
                 # Add to dependencies
-                if new_metadata_header.relative_path:
-                    dependencies += [ os.path.join(new_metadata_header.relative_path, x) for x in new_metadata_header.dependencies]
+                if new_metadata_header.dependencies_path:
+                    dependencies += [ os.path.join(new_metadata_header.dependencies_path, x) for x in new_metadata_header.dependencies]
                 else:
                     dependencies += new_metadata_header.dependencies
             else:
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ def read_new_metadata(filename, module_name, table_name, scheme_name = None, sub
                 container = encode_container(module_name, scheme_name, table_name)
 
                 # Add to dependencies
-                if new_metadata_header.relative_path:
-                    dependencies += [ os.path.join(new_metadata_header.relative_path, x) for x in new_metadata_header.dependencies]
+                if new_metadata_header.dependencies_path:
+                    dependencies += [ os.path.join(new_metadata_header.dependencies_path, x) for x in new_metadata_header.dependencies]
                 else:
                     dependencies += new_metadata_header.dependencies
 
diff --git a/scripts/metadata_table.py b/scripts/metadata_table.py
index 3de515ef..0c4d228d 100755
--- a/scripts/metadata_table.py
+++ b/scripts/metadata_table.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 [ccpp-table-properties]
   name = <name>
   type = scheme
-  relative_path = <relative path>
+  dependencies_path = <relative path>
   dependencies = <dependencies>
   module = <module name> # only needed if module name differs from filename
   source_path = <relative source directory of Fortran source (if different)>
@@ -358,12 +358,12 @@ class MetadataTable():
     __table_start = re.compile(r"(?i)\s*\[\s*ccpp-table-properties\s*\]")
 
     def __init__(self, run_env, table_name_in=None, table_type_in=None,
-                 dependencies=None, relative_path=None, source_path=None,
+                 dependencies=None, dependencies_path=None, source_path=None,
                  known_ddts=None, var_dict=None, module=None, parse_object=None,
                  skip_ddt_check=False):
         """Initialize a MetadataTable, either with a name, <table_name_in>, and
         type, <table_type_in>, or with information from a file (<parse_object>).
-        if <parse_object> is None, <dependencies>, <relative_path>, and
+        if <parse_object> is None, <dependencies>, <dependencies_path>, and
           are <source_path> are also stored.
         If <var_dict> and / or module are passed (not allowed with
           <parse_object), then a single MetadataSection is added with
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ def __init__(self, run_env, table_name_in=None, table_type_in=None,
         self.__dependencies = dependencies
         self.__fortran_src_path = source_path
         self.__module_name = module
-        self.__relative_path = relative_path
+        self.__dependencies_path = dependencies_path
         self.__sections = []
         self.__run_env = run_env
         if parse_object is None:
@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ def __init__(self, run_env, table_name_in=None, table_type_in=None,
                 perr = "dependencies not allowed as argument when reading file"
                 raise ParseInternalError(perr)
             # end if
-            if relative_path:
-                perr = "relative_path not allowed as argument when reading file"
+            if dependencies_path:
+                perr = "dependencies_path not allowed as argument when reading file"
                 raise ParseInternalError(perr)
             # end if
             if var_dict is not None: # i.e., not even an empty dict
@@ -441,8 +441,8 @@ def __init__(self, run_env, table_name_in=None, table_type_in=None,
             self.__init_from_file(known_ddts, self.__run_env, skip_ddt_check=skip_ddt_check)
             # Set absolute path for all dependencies
             path = os.path.dirname(self.__pobj.filename)
-            if self.relative_path:
-                path = os.path.join(path, self.relative_path)
+            if self.dependencies_path:
+                path = os.path.join(path, self.dependencies_path)
             # end if
             for ind, dep in enumerate(self.__dependencies):
                 self.__dependencies[ind] = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(path, dep))
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ def __init_from_file(self, known_ddts, run_env, skip_ddt_check=False):
                         # end if
                     elif key == 'module_name':
                         self.__module_name = value
-                    elif key == 'relative_path':
-                        self.__relative_path = value
+                    elif key == 'dependencies_path':
+                        self.__dependencies_path = value
                     elif key == 'source_path':
                         self.__fortran_src_path = os.path.join(my_dirname, value)
                     else:
@@ -592,9 +592,9 @@ def module_name(self):
         return self.__module_name
 
     @property
-    def relative_path(self):
+    def dependencies_path(self):
         """Return the relative path for the table's dependencies"""
-        return self.__relative_path
+        return self.__dependencies_path
 
     @property
     def fortran_source_path(self):
diff --git a/test/capgen_test/temp_adjust.meta b/test/capgen_test/temp_adjust.meta
index f754e7c4..963f87ac 100644
--- a/test/capgen_test/temp_adjust.meta
+++ b/test/capgen_test/temp_adjust.meta
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   name = temp_adjust
   type = scheme
   dependencies = qux.F90
-  relative_path = adjust
+  dependencies_path = adjust
 [ccpp-arg-table]
   name = temp_adjust_register
   type = scheme
diff --git a/test/ddthost_test/temp_adjust.meta b/test/ddthost_test/temp_adjust.meta
index 420e9112..c7e1ab43 100644
--- a/test/ddthost_test/temp_adjust.meta
+++ b/test/ddthost_test/temp_adjust.meta
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   name = temp_adjust
   type = scheme
   dependencies = qux.F90
-  relative_path = adjust
+  dependencies_path = adjust
 [ccpp-arg-table]
   name = temp_adjust_run
   type = scheme
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_rel_path.meta b/test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_path.meta
similarity index 86%
rename from test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_rel_path.meta
rename to test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_path.meta
index d1970cd4..391ad93d 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_rel_path.meta
+++ b/test/unit_tests/sample_files/test_dependencies_path.meta
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [ccpp-table-properties]
   name = test_host
   type = host
-  relative_path = ../../ccpp/physics/physics
+  dependencies_path = ../../ccpp/physics/physics
   dependencies = machine.F,physcons.F90,,
   dependencies = GFDL_parse_tracers.F90,,rte-rrtmgp/rrtmgp/mo_gas_optics_rrtmgp.F90
 
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/test_metadata_table.py b/test/unit_tests/test_metadata_table.py
index abf48b67..c09b040c 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/test_metadata_table.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/test_metadata_table.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_good_host_file(self):
         #       size of returned list equals number of headers in the test file
         #       ccpp-table-properties name is 'test_host'
         dependencies = result[0].dependencies
-        rel_path = result[0].relative_path
+        rel_path = result[0].dependencies_path
         self.assertFalse('' in dependencies)
         self.assertEqual(len(dependencies), 0)
         self.assertIsNone(rel_path)
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def test_no_table_type(self):
         with self.assertRaises(Exception) as context:
             MetadataTable(self._DUMMY_RUN_ENV, table_name_in="something",
                           table_type_in=None, dependencies=None,
-                          relative_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
+                          dependencies_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
                           module=None, parse_object=None)
 
         #print("The exception is", context.exception)
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ def test_bad_header_type(self):
         with self.assertRaises(Exception) as context:
             MetadataTable(self._DUMMY_RUN_ENV, table_name_in="something",
                           table_type_in="banana", dependencies=None,
-                          relative_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
+                          dependencies_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
                           module=None, parse_object=None)
 
         #print("The exception is", context.exception)
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ def test_no_module(self):
         with self.assertRaises(Exception) as context:
             MetadataTable(self._DUMMY_RUN_ENV, table_name_in=None,
                           table_type_in=None, dependencies=None,
-                          relative_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
+                          dependencies_path=None, known_ddts=None, var_dict=None,
                           module=None, parse_object=None)
 
         #print("The exception is", context.exception)
@@ -358,17 +358,17 @@ def test_missing_table_properties(self):
         emsg = "Invalid CCPP metadata line, '[ccpp-arg-table]', at "
         self.assertTrue(emsg in str(context.exception))
 
-    def test_dependencies_rel_path(self):
-        """Test that relative_path and dependencies from ccpp-table-properties are read in correctly"""
+    def test_dependencies_path(self):
+        """Test that dependencies_path and dependencies from ccpp-table-properties are read in correctly"""
         known_ddts = list()
         filename = os.path.join(SAMPLE_FILES_DIR,
-                                "test_dependencies_rel_path.meta")
+                                "test_dependencies_path.meta")
 
         result = parse_metadata_file(filename, known_ddts,
                                      self._DUMMY_RUN_ENV)
 
         dependencies = result[0].dependencies
-        rel_path = result[0].relative_path
+        rel_path = result[0].dependencies_path
         titles = [elem.table_name for elem in result]
 
         self.assertEqual(len(dependencies), 4)
diff --git a/test_prebuild/test_track_variables/scheme_2.meta b/test_prebuild/test_track_variables/scheme_2.meta
index 143bc2c6..2a03f096 100644
--- a/test_prebuild/test_track_variables/scheme_2.meta
+++ b/test_prebuild/test_track_variables/scheme_2.meta
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [ccpp-table-properties]
   name = scheme_2
   type = scheme
-  relative_path = ../../
+  dependencies_path = ../../
   dependencies = hooks/machine.F
 
 ########################################################################
diff --git a/test_prebuild/unit_tests/test_metadata_parser.py b/test_prebuild/unit_tests/test_metadata_parser.py
index 1d4b4819..b4e36dfc 100644
--- a/test_prebuild/unit_tests/test_metadata_parser.py
+++ b/test_prebuild/unit_tests/test_metadata_parser.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 [ccpp-table-properties]
   name = <name>
   type = scheme
-  relative_path = path
+  dependencies_path = path
   dependencies = a.f,b.f
 
 [ccpp-arg-table]
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ def test_MetadataTable_parse_table(tmpdir):
     metadata_header = metadata_headers[0]
     assert metadata_header.table_name == "<name>"
     assert metadata_header.table_type == "scheme"
-    assert metadata_header.relative_path == "path"
-    assert metadata_header.dependencies == [os.path.join(tmpdir, metadata_header.relative_path,"a.f"), os.path.join(tmpdir, metadata_header.relative_path,"b.f")]
+    assert metadata_header.dependencies_path == "path"
+    assert metadata_header.dependencies == [os.path.join(tmpdir, metadata_header.dependencies_path,"a.f"), os.path.join(tmpdir, metadata_header.dependencies_path,"b.f")]
 
     # check metadata section
     assert len(metadata_header.sections()) == 1