Tadayoshi originally used one character from the name of Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) regent Takatoki HOJO and took the name Takakuni but subsequently changed his name to Tadayoshi (直義) and then to Tadayoshi (直義).
当初、鎌倉幕府執権北条高時より一字を受け高国と名乗るが、後に忠義に改め、さらに直義に改名する。