diff --git a/tools/hack/verify-release-notes.sh b/tools/hack/verify-release-notes.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..2de83c15f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/hack/verify-release-notes.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[0;33m'
+NC='\033[0m' 
+
+errors=0
+
+echo "Verifying release note filenames in 'release-notes'..."
+
+if [ -d "release-notes" ]; then
+    for file in release-notes/*.yaml; do
+        [ -e "$file" ] || continue
+        filename=$(basename "$file")
+
+        if [ "$filename" = "current.yaml" ]; then
+            echo " Skipping current.yaml (special file)"
+            continue
+        fi
+        
+        if ! [[ "$filename" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+(-rc\.[0-9]+)?\.yaml$ ]]; then
+            echo -e "${RED}Error: Invalid filename format: $filename${NC}"
+            echo "   Expected: vX.Y.Z.yaml or vX.Y.Z-rc.N.yaml"
+            echo "   Example:  v1.7.0-rc.1.yaml"
+            
+            if [[ "$filename" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc[0-9]+\.yaml$ ]]; then
+                suggested="${filename//-rc/-rc.}"
+                echo -e "${YELLOW} Suggestion: Rename to $suggested${NC}"
+            fi
+            
+            ((errors++))
+        else
+            echo " $filename"
+        fi
+    done
+fi
+
+SITE_NOTES_DIR="site/content/en/news/releases/notes"
+if [ -d "$SITE_NOTES_DIR" ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "🔍 Verifying release note filenames in '$SITE_NOTES_DIR'..."
+    
+    for file in "$SITE_NOTES_DIR"/*.md; do
+        [ -e "$file" ] || continue
+        filename=$(basename "$file")
+        
+        if [ "$filename" = "_index.md" ]; then
+            echo "Skipping _index.md (index file)"
+            continue
+        fi
+        
+        if ! [[ "$filename" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+(-rc\.[0-9]+)?\.md$ ]]; then
+            echo -e "${RED}Error: Invalid filename format: $filename${NC}"
+            echo "   Expected: vX.Y.Z.md or vX.Y.Z-rc.N.md"
+            echo "   Example:  v1.7.0-rc.1.md"
+            
+            if [[ "$filename" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc[0-9]+\.md$ ]]; then
+                suggested="${filename//-rc/-rc.}"
+                echo -e "${YELLOW}  Suggestion: Rename to $suggested${NC}"
+            fi
+            
+            ((errors++))
+        else
+            echo " $filename"
+        fi
+    done
+fi
+
+echo ""
+if [ "$errors" -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo -e "${GREEN} All release note filenames are valid!${NC}"
+    exit 0
+else
+    echo -e "${RED} Verification failed with $errors error(s).${NC}"
+    echo ""
+    echo "To fix these issues:"
+    echo "   1. Rename files with old RC format (rcN → rc.N)"
+    echo "   2. Ensure all version files follow: vX.Y.Z.yaml or vX.Y.Z-rc.N.yaml"
+    exit 1
+fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/make/lint.mk b/tools/make/lint.mk
index ad8f38427f..482563e49b 100644
--- a/tools/make/lint.mk
+++ b/tools/make/lint.mk
@@ -118,3 +118,9 @@ lint: lint.dependabot
 lint.dependabot: ## Check if dependabot configuration is valid
 	@$(LOG_TARGET)
 	@npx @bugron/validate-dependabot-yaml .github/dependabot.yml
+
+.PHONY: lint.release-notes
+lint: lint.release-notes
+lint.release-notes: ## Check if release note filenames follow SemVer
+	@$(LOG_TARGET)
+	@bash tools/hack/verify-release-notes.sh