The street is said to have been given the name of 'Omiya' because it borders the eastern edge of Dai-dairi (place of the Imperial Palace and government offices) (incidentally the street bordering the west edge of Dai-dairi was named Nishiomiya-oji Street), but the former name of Kuga-jinja Shrine of Shikinaisha (shrine listed in Engishiki laws), located directly north of the street in Shichiku-Shimotakedono-cho, Kita Ward, was 'Omiya.'
「大内裏」の東側に接していたため（ちなみに大内裏の西側に接していた通りを「西大宮大路」といった）と言われているが、この通りの真北の北区紫竹下竹殿町には式内社「久我神社」がありかつて「大宮」とも呼ばれた。