In addition to the county of Leitrim in Connacht and the village after which it is named, there are numerous places named Leitrim in Ireland. It is especially common as a townland name. It is, therefore, difficult to be sure which particular Leitrim is referred to in this street name. The name is usually from the Irish Liatroim, a compound of liath and droim, meaning 'grey ridge'.
This is the L in an alphabetical sequence of streets built in the 1880s and 1890s.
"Mr. J. Brown moved the adoption of this report, which, in addition to the usual statement of ordinary accounts, contained the following:- Your committee have named the new streets between Castlereagh Road and Cregagh Road Jocelyn Avenue, Kingscourt Street, Leitrim Street, Moneyrea Street, Newry Street, Omeath Avenue, Portobello Street, Quinton Street, Rostrevor Street and Euston Street...”. (Northern Whig - Saturday 02 September 1882)