Until 1896, the name of the municipality was Bodø landdistrikt, meaning "the rural district of Bodø". The town of Bodø is named after the old Bodøgård farm meaning "the farm (gård) of Bodø".
Until 1896, the municipality was referred to as Bodø's countryside area, signifying its rural nature. The town of Bodø is named after the old farmstead of Bodøgård, which signifies a connection to the land.