Apparently named after the district of Newington in the Borough of Southwark, South London. Nearby, Camberwell Terrace (originally Camberwell Street) and Camberwell Court are also named after a suburb of South London. However, the theme does not appear to go any further.
As well as this street and Newington Avenue, the name Newington has been adopted for the wider district adjacent to Antrim Road and Limestone Road, e.g. in the name of Newington Amateur Boxing Club.
"Resolved that the following names of streets submitted by the Surveyor be approved of: … Street off Limestone Road at Mr D Wright’s property — Newington Street". (15th April 1874).
Dual language street sign (English and Irish) approved in January 2025.