Over the centuries, it went through many name changes and different spellings. In 1664, on a map by Ducreux, this lake was known as "Outakgami". On maps by Jolliet (1684), Jaillot (1685) and Franquelin (1688), the lake was identified as "Timagaming". In 1703, the cartographer Guillaume Delisle used the same name, along with the name "Mistasin". Laure (1731) and Bellin (1744) showed on their maps the name "Lake Mistassins". Other spelling variations of this Native American designation included: "Mistacinnee, Mistacsinney, Mistasinne, Mistasinia", etc.