diff --git a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/density.py b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/density.py
index 69b070c487f15c6bbe49362ecbcc51d783ca1283..cb1446107b9c001706e04f80d07ac3bbe0a1c693 100644
--- a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/density.py
+++ b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/density.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import numpy as np
 import iris
 
 from earthdiagnostics.modelingrealm import ModelingRealms
-from earthdiagnostics.utils import TempFile
+from earthdiagnostics.utils import TempFile, Utils
 from earthdiagnostics.diagnostic import Diagnostic
 
 
@@ -147,4 +147,12 @@ class Density(Diagnostic):
             iris.save(sigma_cube, temp, zlib=True, fill_value=1e20)
             del sigma_cube
             del sigma_values
+            Utils.rename_variables(
+                temp,
+                {
+                    "dim2": "j",
+                    "dim3": "i",
+                },
+                must_exist=False,
+            )
             self.sigma[sigma].set_local_file(temp)