It is said that it was initially called 'Yoshino' after Mt. Yoshino-yama in Yamato Province (a mountainous district in Nara Prefecture), which is a place noted for its cherry blossoms; however, since there was concern that the name 'Yoshino (Yoshinozakura)' would be confused with Yamazakura, which grows a lot in Mt. Yoshino-yama, Dr. Yorinaga FUJINO, who had conducted research on the cherry trees of Ueno Park, called it 'Someiyoshino' in 'Japanese Gardening Magazine.'
名称は初め、サクラの名所として古来名高く西行法師の和歌にもたびたび詠まれた大和国の吉野山（奈良県山岳部）にちなんで「吉野」とされたが、「吉野（桜）」の名称では吉野山に多いヤマザクラと混同される恐れがあるため、上野公園のサクラを調査した藤野寄命博士が「日本園芸雑誌」において「染井吉野」と命名したという。