diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.cc b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.cc
similarity index 94%
rename from src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.cc
rename to src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.cc
index 7ddb8280fa..59613032ff 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.cc
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.cc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 //@HEADER
 // *****************************************************************************
 //
-//                                comm_model.cc
+//                             weighted_messages.cc
 //                       DARMA/vt => Virtual Transport
 //
 // Copyright 2019-2021 National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@
 //@HEADER
 */
 
-#include "vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.h"
+#include "vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.h"
 
 namespace vt { namespace vrt { namespace collection { namespace balance {
 
-TimeType CommModel::getModeledComm(ElementIDStruct object, PhaseOffset when) {
+TimeType WeightedMessages::getModeledComm(ElementIDStruct object, PhaseOffset when) {
   auto phase = getNumCompletedPhases() + when.phases;
   auto& comm = proc_comm_->at(phase);
 
diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.h b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.h
similarity index 92%
rename from src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.h
rename to src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.h
index c65c53832b..37debf9b36 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.h
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 //@HEADER
 // *****************************************************************************
 //
-//                                 comm_model.h
+//                             weighted_messages.h
 //                       DARMA/vt => Virtual Transport
 //
 // Copyright 2019-2021 National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
@@ -41,15 +41,15 @@
 //@HEADER
 */
 
-#if !defined INCLUDED_VT_VRT_COLLECTION_BALANCE_MODEL_COMM_MODEL_H
-#define INCLUDED_VT_VRT_COLLECTION_BALANCE_MODEL_COMM_MODEL_H
+#if !defined INCLUDED_VT_VRT_COLLECTION_BALANCE_MODEL_WEIGHTED_MESSAGES_H
+#define INCLUDED_VT_VRT_COLLECTION_BALANCE_MODEL_WEIGHTED_MESSAGES_H
 
 #include "vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/composed_model.h"
 #include <unordered_map>
 
 namespace vt { namespace vrt { namespace collection { namespace balance {
 
-struct CommModel : public ComposedModel {
+struct WeightedMessages : public ComposedModel {
   /**
    * \brief Constructor
    *
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ struct CommModel : public ComposedModel {
    * \param[in] in_per_msg_weight weight to add per message received
    * \param[in] in_per_byte_weight weight to add per byte received
    */
-  explicit CommModel(
+  explicit WeightedMessages(
     std::shared_ptr<balance::LoadModel> base,
     TimeType in_per_msg_weight, TimeType in_per_byte_weight
   ) : ComposedModel(base),
diff --git a/tests/unit/collection/test_model_comm_model.nompi.cc b/tests/unit/collection/test_model_comm_model.nompi.cc
index 16f795d054..805ea8292c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/collection/test_model_comm_model.nompi.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/collection/test_model_comm_model.nompi.cc
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 */
 
 #include <vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/load_model.h>
-#include <vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/comm_model.h>
+#include <vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/weighted_messages.h>
 
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@
 
 namespace vt { namespace tests { namespace unit { namespace comm { namespace model {
 
-using TestModelCommModel = TestHarness;
+using TestModelWeightedMessages = TestHarness;
 
 using vt::elm::CommKeyType;
 using vt::elm::CommMapType;
 using vt::elm::CommVolume;
 using vt::elm::ElementIDStruct;
-using vt::vrt::collection::balance::CommModel;
+using vt::vrt::collection::balance::WeightedMessages;
 using vt::vrt::collection::balance::LoadMapType;
 using vt::vrt::collection::balance::LoadModel;
 using vt::vrt::collection::balance::ObjectIterator;
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ struct StubModel : LoadModel {
   ProcLoadMap const* proc_load_ = nullptr;
 };
 
-TEST_F(TestModelCommModel, test_comm_model) {
+TEST_F(TestModelWeightedMessages, test_model) {
 
   // For simplicity's sake, the elements are on the home node
   // Element 1 (home node == 1)
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ TEST_F(TestModelCommModel, test_comm_model) {
   constexpr auto per_msg_weight = 3.0;
   constexpr auto per_byte_weight = 5.0;
 
-  auto test_model = std::make_shared<CommModel>(
+  auto test_model = std::make_shared<WeightedMessages>(
     std::make_shared<StubModel>(), per_msg_weight, per_byte_weight
   );
   test_model->setLoads(&proc_load, &proc_comm);