This street in Short Strand appears at first glance to be named after the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Superficially, it appears to be part of a small group of street-names derived from British and Irish place-names, which originally included Clyde Street, Moira Street and Altcar Street. If so, this would be a rather odd hotch-potch of place-names: an Ulster town, a Scottish island, a Scottish river and a Northern English village. However, there is good reason to believe that these are not simply geographical names, but rather names of, or connected with, a group of peers: Baron Clyde, Earl of Moira and the Earl of Sefton's estate at Altcar. It is, therefore, likely that Arran Street too is named after a peer, namely the Earl of Arran. However, there are two separate titles of this name, one in the Scottish peerage and one in the Irish peerage. Despite the spelling with two Rs, the Irish title refers to the Aran Islands (Ir. Oileáin Árann) in Galway Bay. The title is held by the Gore family. During the 19th century they were major landowners in Cos. Mayo and Donegal. Philip York Gore, 4th Earl of Arran (1801-84), held 29,644 acres in Co. Mayo and 6,883 acres in Co. Donegal in 1876 (Local Government Board). He also had a career as a diplomat. It seems most likely that Arran Street is named after the 4th Earl (Irish peerage) or a previous holder of the title, but evidence is wanting to prove this with certainty.
"That on the application of Samuel White the new street off Clyde Place be named Arran Street". (27th August 1879).