The more formal name for the 'kokubunji' was 'konkomyo-shitenno-gokoku no tera' (meaning 'temples for the protection of the country by the four guardian deities of the golden light') and the more formal name for the 'kokubunniji' was 'hokke-metsuzai no tera' (meaning 'nunneries for eliminating sin by means of the Lotus Sutra').
正式名称は、国分寺が金光明四天王護国之寺（こんこうみょうしてんのうごこくのてら）、国分尼寺が法華滅罪之寺（ほっけめつざいのてら）である。