Initially, the square was called Smolnaya, and later – the Smolny Convent square, after the Smolny Resurrection Convent located nearby. In 1864, the square was renamed as Mariinskaya, in honor of Empress Maria Feodorovna, who took a number of educational, medical, and charitable institutions under her patronage after the death of Emperor Paul I. She was in charge of both the Smolny Resurrection Cathedral and the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens located close by.

Since 1884, the official name of the square was Yekaterininskaya (Catherine’s square). On October 6, 1923, this place was named the Square of Architect Rastrelli in honor of the famous architect F.B. Rastrelli. The modern name - Rastrelli Square - appeared in 1929, after the word "architect" was removed from the nam