This is the only station on the section extending south of Kyoto Station for which public participation was invited for its name prior to inauguration, whereupon it was named after the 'Kuina-bashi Bridge' (a kuina is a species of water bird) spanning the Kamo-gawa River (Yodo-gawa River system).
京都駅以南が開業する際、延長区間で唯一駅名の公募が行われ、近くを流れる鴨川(淀川水系)にかかる「水鶏橋」（くいなばし）にちなんで駅名が決まった（クイナは鳥の一種）。