Hi - not sure why are you using 2.2x when 2.41 is available, but if you are starting out fresh then I would recommend upgrading or a quick restart.
Re changing the names of topics, assuming your course is in Topics format, then you need to turn editing on, and you can then edit each section and as Mary says untick the default and enter whatever topic name you want.
Remember, 2.5 is just around the corner now, so if you are starting a new site, go with 2.41 which does have a lot of other bug fixes and features as well - it will dramatically simplify upgrades later when you need a specific feature (such as activity completion).