The palace was named 'Zenrin-ji-dono' after Zenrin-ji Temple (Kyoto City) (Eikan-do), the headquarters of the Seizan-Zenrin-ji branch of the Pure Land Sect that still stands to the north of Nanzen-ji Temple.
「禅林寺殿」の名は、南禅寺の北に現存する浄土宗西山禅林寺派総本山の禅林寺(京都市)（永観堂）に由来する。