"The application of Mr John Savage J.P. for permission to name the new street leading from Old Park Road to his Mill 'Ardilea Street' was granted". (21st October 1868).
Savage’s own residence was named Ardilea House, built around 1850 near Greenisland. Belfast street-naming commonly honoured the big houses of prominent merchants, politicians, or industrialists.
This website record proves the name was also tied to Savage’s Oldpark Road flax mill. Ardilea Street was essentially the mill’s approach road.
The name Ardilea comes from the Irish Ard an Lao (“height of the calf”), found as a townland name in County Down. Belfast City Council uses this Irish form (Céide Ard an Lao) on dual-language street signs for Ardilea Drive.