diff --git a/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/pipeline.py b/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/pipeline.py
index fcc3becd2d..045f7ec85d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/pipeline.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/pipeline.py
@@ -539,6 +539,8 @@ def list_instances(creator_id=None):
     """
     instances_by_order = defaultdict(list)
     subset_instances = []
+    instance_ids = set()
+
     for node in nuke.allNodes(recurseGroups=True):
 
         if node.Class() in ["Viewer", "Dot"]:
@@ -564,6 +566,14 @@ def list_instances(creator_id=None):
         if creator_id and instance_data["creator_identifier"] != creator_id:
             continue
 
+        if instance_data["instance_id"] in instance_ids:
+            instance_data.pop("instance_id")
+        else:
+            instance_ids.add(instance_data["instance_id"])
+
+        # node name could change, so update subset name data
+        _update_subset_name_data(instance_data, node)
+
         if "render_order" not in node.knobs():
             subset_instances.append((node, instance_data))
             continue
@@ -572,23 +582,43 @@ def list_instances(creator_id=None):
         instances_by_order[order].append((node, instance_data))
 
     # Sort instances based on order attribute or subset name.
+    # TODO: remove in future Publisher enhanced with sorting
     ordered_instances = []
     for key in sorted(instances_by_order.keys()):
-        instances_by_subset = {}
-        for node, data in instances_by_order[key]:
-            instances_by_subset[data["subset"]] = (node, data)
+        instances_by_subset = defaultdict(list)
+        for node, data_ in instances_by_order[key]:
+            instances_by_subset[data_["subset"]].append((node, data_))
         for subkey in sorted(instances_by_subset.keys()):
-            ordered_instances.append(instances_by_subset[subkey])
+            ordered_instances.extend(instances_by_subset[subkey])
 
-    instances_by_subset = {}
-    for node, data in subset_instances:
-        instances_by_subset[data["subset"]] = (node, data)
+    instances_by_subset = defaultdict(list)
+    for node, data_ in subset_instances:
+        instances_by_subset[data_["subset"]].append((node, data_))
     for key in sorted(instances_by_subset.keys()):
-        ordered_instances.append(instances_by_subset[key])
+        ordered_instances.extend(instances_by_subset[key])
 
     return ordered_instances
 
 
+def _update_subset_name_data(instance_data, node):
+    """Update subset name data in instance data.
+
+    Args:
+        instance_data (dict): instance creator data
+        node (nuke.Node): nuke node
+    """
+    # make sure node name is subset name
+    old_subset_name = instance_data["subset"]
+    old_variant = instance_data["variant"]
+    subset_name_root = old_subset_name.replace(old_variant, "")
+
+    new_subset_name = node.name()
+    new_variant = new_subset_name.replace(subset_name_root, "")
+
+    instance_data["subset"] = new_subset_name
+    instance_data["variant"] = new_variant
+
+
 def remove_instance(instance):
     """Remove instance from current workfile metadata.
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/plugin.py
index 4ecc5e9d11..b95d295a82 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/nuke/api/plugin.py
@@ -212,9 +212,15 @@ class NukeCreator(NewCreator):
                 created_instance["creator_attributes"].pop(key)
 
     def update_instances(self, update_list):
-        for created_inst, _changes in update_list:
+        for created_inst, changes in update_list:
             instance_node = created_inst.transient_data["node"]
 
+            # update instance node name if subset name changed
+            if "subset" in changes.changed_keys:
+                instance_node["name"].setValue(
+                    changes["subset"].new_value
+                )
+
             # in case node is not existing anymore (user erased it manually)
             try:
                 instance_node.fullName()