Named after Glantrasna, a glen and townland on the Beara peninsula, Co. Kerry. Glantrasna 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, Glantane 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'.
“That Mr. W. H. McLaughlin of York Road be informed in reply to his application of 9th inst., that the Committee approve of the names ‘Glandore Avenue’, ‘Glanleam Street’, and ‘Glantrasna Street’ for his 3 new streets off Antrim Road and Skegoniel Avenue, but request him to submit another name in lieu of Glandoran Street". (10th October 1894).
"Submitted application from Messrs. McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd., to have the name for street off Glandore Avenue changed from Glantrasna Street to Glantrasna Drive. Resolved – That the application be acceded to". (5th October 1926)