Hopefield Avenue takes its name from Hopefield, a nineteenth-century house or estate shown on Ordnance Survey maps of the area. The house stood on ground later subdivided for residential development, with the name retained for the new street. "Hopefield (Antrim Road) Thomas Sinclair; office and stores Tomb Street" is listed in the Directory of Belfast and Province of Ulster (1865-1866)
The committee have granted permission to Messrs. Thomas Martin and Andrew Wright to name a new street running from Antrim Road to Cavehill Road Hopefield Avenue. (Belfast News-Letter - Saturday 02 December 1871).