The road is named after the Marquess of Donegall from a family name whose family is found on several locations in Belfast. Donegall Road was once known as Blackstaff Lane, and later Blackstaff Road.
The minutes of 27 December 1893 of the Town Improvement Committee of Belfast Corporation state the following: “On application of a large majority of the owners, your committee recommend that the names of Wesley Place and Blackstaff Road be done away and the name ‘Donegall Road’ be given to those two thoroughfares”.
"That on the application of the owner Mr. Wm. Easdale a new street on his property situate off Falls Road & Blackstaff Lane next Clowney River be named Alameda Street". (1st October 1901).
"Submitted application from Mr. Wm. Easdale to have the name of Blackstaff Lane changed to Easdale Street, and referred to the Surveyor for report". (30th August 1910).
"Resolved — That Mr. Wm. Easdale be informed in reply to his letter of 3rd inst., to the City Surveyor, relative to proposed change in the name of Blackstaff Lane, that the Officials of the Corporation cannot undertake to furnish him with the names of property owners in the street". (4th October 1910).
From one of his regular articles in the Belfast Telegraph John J Marshall wrote: "Inhabitants of the district used to refer to this thoroughfare as "up the Staff.' It was changed on petition of the residents to Donegall Road, the old familiar name not being considered a name being sufficiently high class for this progressive thoroughfare. It is Blackstaff Road in the directory for 1894, and Donegall Road in the directory of 1895". Belfast Telegraph - Wednesday 08 January 1941.
The Irish language form only applies to part of the street.