"Resolved that on the application of Dr Ritchie the new street from York Road to Northern Counties Railway be named Ritchie Sheet " (Town Corporation Minutes, 6th October 1886).
The minutes of 12th August 1891 also record an application of the owner, Mr W. B. Ritchie for two new streets on his property situate off York Road, be named "Ayr street and "Fife street".
It is likely that the street is named after William Barry Ritchie (1816-87), who lived at the Grove and inherited a felt and fertiliser manufacturing business at Mountpottinger from his father, Francis. This firm won the contract to build the new Queen’s Bridge across the Lagan in 1841-42 and the work was supervised by William Barry Ritchie. His death was reported in the Northern Whig newspaper on 17th February 1887.