diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCFontAtlasCache.cpp b/cocos/2d/CCFontAtlasCache.cpp
index 1701ac3701..8c5021b636 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCFontAtlasCache.cpp
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCFontAtlasCache.cpp
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ bool FontAtlasCache::releaseFontAtlas(FontAtlas *atlas)
         {
             if ( item.second == atlas )
             {
-                if( atlas->isSingleReference() )
+                if (atlas->getReferenceCount() == 1)
                 {
                   _atlasMap.erase(item.first);
                 }
diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCSpriteFrameCache.cpp b/cocos/2d/CCSpriteFrameCache.cpp
index a2b289ced6..bc89ef1b69 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCSpriteFrameCache.cpp
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCSpriteFrameCache.cpp
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void SpriteFrameCache::removeUnusedSpriteFrames()
     for (auto iter = _spriteFrames.begin(); iter != _spriteFrames.end(); ++iter)
     {
         SpriteFrame* spriteFrame = iter->second;
-        if( spriteFrame->retainCount() == 1 ) 
+        if( spriteFrame->getReferenceCount() == 1 )
         {
             toRemoveFrames.push_back(iter->first);
             CCLOG("cocos2d: SpriteFrameCache: removing unused frame: %s", iter->first.c_str());
diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCTextureCache.cpp b/cocos/2d/CCTextureCache.cpp
index c6527ba07f..aaa9ccfb4a 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCTextureCache.cpp
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCTextureCache.cpp
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ void TextureCache::removeUnusedTextures()
 {
     for( auto it=_textures.cbegin(); it!=_textures.cend(); /* nothing */) {
         Texture2D *tex = it->second;
-        if( tex->retainCount() == 1 ) {
+        if( tex->getReferenceCount() == 1 ) {
             CCLOG("cocos2d: TextureCache: removing unused texture: %s", it->first.c_str());
 
             tex->release();
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ std::string TextureCache::getCachedTextureInfo() const
         count++;
         snprintf(buftmp,sizeof(buftmp)-1,"\"%s\" rc=%lu id=%lu %lu x %lu @ %ld bpp => %lu KB\n",
                it->first.c_str(),
-               (long)tex->retainCount(),
+               (long)tex->getReferenceCount(),
                (long)tex->getName(),
                (long)tex->getPixelsWide(),
                (long)tex->getPixelsHigh(),
diff --git a/cocos/base/CCAutoreleasePool.cpp b/cocos/base/CCAutoreleasePool.cpp
index 76a273dfcb..f841590f07 100644
--- a/cocos/base/CCAutoreleasePool.cpp
+++ b/cocos/base/CCAutoreleasePool.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ void AutoreleasePool::dump()
     CCLOG("%20s%20s%20s", "Object pointer", "Object id", "reference count");
     for (const auto &obj : _managedObjectArray)
     {
-        CCLOG("%20p%20u%20u\n", obj, obj->_ID, obj->retainCount());
+        CCLOG("%20p%20u%20u\n", obj, obj->_ID, obj->getReferenceCount());
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/cocos/base/CCObject.cpp b/cocos/base/CCObject.cpp
index b1cc8f49d0..dcbf8a6b62 100644
--- a/cocos/base/CCObject.cpp
+++ b/cocos/base/CCObject.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ NS_CC_BEGIN
 
 Object::Object()
 : _luaID(0)
-, _reference(1) // when the object is created, the reference count of it is 1
+, _referenceCount(1) // when the object is created, the reference count of it is 1
 {
     static unsigned int uObjectCount = 0;
 
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ Object* Object::autorelease()
 
 bool Object::isSingleReference() const
 {
-    return _reference == 1;
+    return _referenceCount == 1;
 }
 
-unsigned int Object::retainCount() const
+unsigned int Object::getReferenceCount() const
 {
-    return _reference;
+    return _referenceCount;
 }
 
 bool Object::isEqual(const Object *object)
diff --git a/cocos/base/CCObject.h b/cocos/base/CCObject.h
index 49b201b871..b9e1250cb7 100644
--- a/cocos/base/CCObject.h
+++ b/cocos/base/CCObject.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public:
     int _luaID;
 protected:
     /// count of references
-    unsigned int _reference;
+    unsigned int _referenceCount;
 public:
     /**
      * Constructor
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ public:
      */
     inline void release()
     {
-        CCASSERT(_reference > 0, "reference count should greater than 0");
-        --_reference;
+        CCASSERT(_referenceCount > 0, "reference count should greater than 0");
+        --_referenceCount;
 
-        if (_reference == 0)
+        if (_referenceCount == 0)
             delete this;
     }
 
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ public:
      */
     inline void retain()
     {
-        CCASSERT(_reference > 0, "reference count should greater than 0");
-        ++_reference;
+        CCASSERT(_referenceCount > 0, "reference count should greater than 0");
+        ++_referenceCount;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public:
      * @returns Whether the object's reference count is 1.
      * @js NA
      */
-    bool isSingleReference() const;
+    CC_DEPRECATED_ATTRIBUTE bool isSingleReference() const;
 
     /**
      * Returns the object's current reference count.
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ public:
      * @returns The object's reference count.
      * @js NA
      */
-    unsigned int retainCount() const;
+    CC_DEPRECATED_ATTRIBUTE unsigned int retainCount() const { return getReferenceCount(); };
+    unsigned int getReferenceCount() const;
 
     /**
      * Returns a boolean value that indicates whether this object and a given
diff --git a/cocos/editor-support/cocostudio/CCDisplayManager.cpp b/cocos/editor-support/cocostudio/CCDisplayManager.cpp
index ca07edaae7..70863f5f92 100644
--- a/cocos/editor-support/cocostudio/CCDisplayManager.cpp
+++ b/cocos/editor-support/cocostudio/CCDisplayManager.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ DisplayManager::~DisplayManager()
     if( _displayRenderNode )
     {
         _displayRenderNode->removeFromParentAndCleanup(true);
-        if(_displayRenderNode->retainCount() > 0)
+        if(_displayRenderNode->getReferenceCount() > 0)
             CC_SAFE_RELEASE_NULL(_displayRenderNode);
     }
 
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/BugsTest/Bug-422.cpp b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/BugsTest/Bug-422.cpp
index 577b99d093..e72fd35deb 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/BugsTest/Bug-422.cpp
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/BugsTest/Bug-422.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void Bug422Layer::check(Node* t)
 {
     auto& children = t->getChildren();
     for(const auto &child : children) {
-        log("%p, rc: %d", child, child->retainCount());
+        log("%p, rc: %d", child, child->getReferenceCount());
         check(child);
     }
 }
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/NodeTest/NodeTest.cpp b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/NodeTest/NodeTest.cpp
index 290366c94c..dabdd35f32 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/NodeTest/NodeTest.cpp
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/NodeTest/NodeTest.cpp
@@ -459,16 +459,16 @@ std::string StressTest2::title() const
 SchedulerTest1::SchedulerTest1()
 {
     auto layer = Layer::create();
-    //CCLOG("retain count after init is %d", layer->retainCount());                // 1
+    //CCLOG("retain count after init is %d", layer->getReferenceCount());                // 1
     
     addChild(layer, 0);
-    //CCLOG("retain count after addChild is %d", layer->retainCount());      // 2
+    //CCLOG("retain count after addChild is %d", layer->getReferenceCount());      // 2
     
     layer->schedule( schedule_selector(SchedulerTest1::doSomething) );
-    //CCLOG("retain count after schedule is %d", layer->retainCount());      // 3 : (object-c viersion), but win32 version is still 2, because Timer class don't save target.
+    //CCLOG("retain count after schedule is %d", layer->getReferenceCount());      // 3 : (object-c viersion), but win32 version is still 2, because Timer class don't save target.
     
     layer->unschedule(schedule_selector(SchedulerTest1::doSomething));
-    //CCLOG("retain count after unschedule is %d", layer->retainCount());        // STILL 3!  (win32 is '2')
+    //CCLOG("retain count after unschedule is %d", layer->getReferenceCount());        // STILL 3!  (win32 is '2')
 }
 
 void SchedulerTest1::doSomething(float dt)
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ReleasePoolTest/ReleasePoolTest.cpp b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ReleasePoolTest/ReleasePoolTest.cpp
index 8cadafa0d4..061e0f1d19 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ReleasePoolTest/ReleasePoolTest.cpp
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ReleasePoolTest/ReleasePoolTest.cpp
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ void ReleasePoolTestScene::runThisTest()
     
     TestObject *obj = new TestObject("testobj");
     obj->autorelease();
-    assert(obj->retainCount() == 1);
+    assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 1);
     
     // should retain first before invoking autorelease
     obj->retain();
     obj->autorelease();
-    assert(obj->retainCount() == 2);
+    assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 2);
     
     // create an autorelease pool in stack
     
@@ -48,19 +48,19 @@ void ReleasePoolTestScene::runThisTest()
         // can invoke autorelease more than once
         obj->retain();
         obj->autorelease();
-        assert(obj->retainCount() == 3);
+        assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 3);
         obj->retain();
         obj->autorelease();
-        assert(obj->retainCount() == 4);
+        assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 4);
         
         // retain, release can work together with autorelease pool
         obj->retain();
-        assert(obj->retainCount() == 5);
+        assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 5);
         obj->release();
-        assert(obj->retainCount() == 4);
+        assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 4);
     }
     
-    assert(obj->retainCount() == 2);
+    assert(obj->getReferenceCount() == 2);
     
     // example of using temple autorelease pool
     {
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/UnitTest/UnitTest.cpp b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/UnitTest/UnitTest.cpp
index 5027ac3c43..20c2767b76 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/UnitTest/UnitTest.cpp
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/UnitTest/UnitTest.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
     auto node1 = Node::create();
     node1->setTag(1);
     vec.pushBack(node1);
-    CCASSERT(node1->retainCount() == 2, "");
+    CCASSERT(node1->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
 
     auto node2 = Node::create();
     node2->setTag(2);
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
     for (ssize_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
     {
         CCASSERT(vec2.at(i) == vec.at(i), "");
-        CCASSERT(vec.at(i)->retainCount() == 3, "");
-        CCASSERT(vec2.at(i)->retainCount() == 3, "");
+        CCASSERT(vec.at(i)->getReferenceCount() == 3, "");
+        CCASSERT(vec2.at(i)->getReferenceCount() == 3, "");
     }
 
     // Test copy assignment operator
@@ -137,9 +137,9 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
     for (ssize_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
     {
         CCASSERT(vec3.at(i) == vec2.at(i), "");
-        CCASSERT(vec3.at(i)->retainCount() == 4, "");
-        CCASSERT(vec2.at(i)->retainCount() == 4, "");
-        CCASSERT(vec.at(i)->retainCount() == 4, "");
+        CCASSERT(vec3.at(i)->getReferenceCount() == 4, "");
+        CCASSERT(vec2.at(i)->getReferenceCount() == 4, "");
+        CCASSERT(vec.at(i)->getReferenceCount() == 4, "");
     }
 
     // Test move constructor
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
     Vector<Node*> vec4(createVector());
     for (const auto& child : vec4)
     {
-        CCASSERT(child->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(child->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // Test init Vector<T> with capacity
@@ -178,16 +178,16 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
 
     auto toRemovedNode = Node::create();
     vec5.pushBack(toRemovedNode);
-    CCASSERT(toRemovedNode->retainCount() == 2, "");
+    CCASSERT(toRemovedNode->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
 
     // Test move assignment operator
     vec5 = createVector();
-    CCASSERT(toRemovedNode->retainCount() == 1, "");
+    CCASSERT(toRemovedNode->getReferenceCount() == 1, "");
     CCASSERT(vec5.size() == 20, "size should be 20");
 
     for (const auto& child : vec5)
     {
-        CCASSERT(child->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(child->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // Test Vector<T>::find
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
     CCASSERT(vec7.size() == 20, "");
     for (const auto& child : vec7)
     {
-        CCASSERT(child->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(child->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // Sort
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
 
     for (const auto& child : vecSelfAssign)
     {
-        CCASSERT(child->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(child->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     vecSelfAssign = std::move(vecSelfAssign);
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ void TemplateVectorTest::onEnter()
 
     for (const auto& child : vecSelfAssign)
     {
-        CCASSERT(child->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(child->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // const at
@@ -350,14 +350,14 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
     Map<std::string, Node*> map2 = createMap();
     for (const auto& e : map2)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // Copy constructor
     Map<std::string, Node*> map3(map2);
     for (const auto& e : map3)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 3, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 3, "");
     }
 
     // Move assignment operator
@@ -365,10 +365,10 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
     auto unusedNode = Node::create();
     map4.insert("unused",unusedNode);
     map4 = createMap();
-    CCASSERT(unusedNode->retainCount() == 1, "");
+    CCASSERT(unusedNode->getReferenceCount() == 1, "");
     for (const auto& e : map4)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // Copy assignment operator
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
     map5 = map4;
     for (const auto& e : map5)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 3, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 3, "");
     }
 
     // Check size
@@ -441,9 +441,9 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
     map6.insert("insert02", node2);
     map6.insert("insert03", node3);
 
-    CCASSERT(node1->retainCount() == 2, "");
-    CCASSERT(node2->retainCount() == 2, "");
-    CCASSERT(node3->retainCount() == 2, "");
+    CCASSERT(node1->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
+    CCASSERT(node2->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
+    CCASSERT(node3->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     CCASSERT(map6.at("insert01") == node1, "");
     CCASSERT(map6.at("insert02") == node2, "");
     CCASSERT(map6.at("insert03") == node3, "");
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
 
     for (const auto& e : mapForClearCopy)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     // get random object
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
 
     for (const auto& e : mapForSelfAssign)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 
     mapForSelfAssign = std::move(mapForSelfAssign);
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ void TemplateMapTest::onEnter()
 
     for (const auto& e : mapForSelfAssign)
     {
-        CCASSERT(e.second->retainCount() == 2, "");
+        CCASSERT(e.second->getReferenceCount() == 2, "");
     }
 }