Named after one of several places in Munster called Glantane, from Irish Gleanntán, 'little glen'. Glantane Drive is part of a group of streets off Antrim Road with names beginning in Glan-. See also Glandore Avenue / Drive / Gardens / Parade, Glanleam Drive, Glantrasna Drive and Glanworth Drive / Gardens. All of these are place-names in the province of Munster, but beyond this they have little in common. Glan- is usually an anglicisation of the Irish word gleann, 'valley'.
The minutes of the Town Improvement Committee of Belfast Corporation of 22 August 1894 indicate the change of name of Glanmire Street to Glantane Street. Councillor Humphreys “submitted a petition from residents in Glantane Street asking that the name of the thoroughfare be changed to Glantane Drive. This was referred to the City Surveyor for consideration and report”. Minutes, Improvement Committee, 9th November 1965.
In the meeting of 18th January 1966 there was the following noted: “The City Surveyor now reported he had written to one of the signatories Mr Quigley, 41 Glantane Street pointing out that the petition did not indicate whether each signatory was an owner/occupier or tenant that the agreement to the change of name must be acceptable to all of the owners and all of the tenants. Mr Quigley had informed him that he had been unable to obtain complete compliance with these requirements and he was not prepared to proceed further in the matter”.
"Submitted memorial, signed by Mr. W. J. Hanna and 39 other residents in Glantane Street, requesting that the name of this street be changed to Glantane Gardens. Resolved – That Mr. Hanna be informed on behalf of the memorialists that if the owners of property in Glantane Street will make application to this Committee to have the name changed to Glantane Drive or Glantane Parade, the Committee will give the matter favourable consideration, but they are not prepared to consider the name Glantane Gardens as the street does not comply with the requirements for the name 'Gardens' ". (9th July 1929).
"Submitted letter, dated 1st August, from Mr. W. J. Hanna, on behalf of a number of residents in Glantane Street, requesting the Committee to reconsider their decision of 9th ultimo declining the request that Glantane Street should be re-named Glantane Gardens. Resolved – That Mr. Hanna be informed the Committee cannot see their way to reconsider their decision as already communicated to him". (6th August 1929).