In the Middle Ages, the commune was called "Châteauneuf en Boutières". During the French Revolution, it was renamed "Bout d'Erieu", then in 1793, "Bout-d'Hesrieux". In 1801, the village was named Saint-Julien-Boutières in memory of a Roman soldier who became a Christian. He was martyred in Brioude in the Haute-Loire department. 