The title 'Sarashina' comes from the poem in the "Kokin wakashu" (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems), 'Seeing the moon over Mt. Ubasute at the village of Sarashina, I feel disconsolate thinking how far I have traveled.'
書名の「更級」は、『古今和歌集』の一首「わが心慰めかねつ更級や姨捨山に照る月を見て」に由来する。