The names of the ten streets and two squares in the Potsdamer Platz district were selected with the use of various criteria.

The old streets, some of which have been slightly shifted, have kept their old names: Link Strasse, Eichhorn Strasse, Schelling Strasse, Potsdamer Strasse and Alte Potsdamer Strasse.

The new streets are named in honor of persons who lived at Potsdamer Platz or whose names had not yet been used in Berlin.

Theodor Fontane lived in Potsdamer Strasse and the Brothers Grimm lived in Link Strasse. Germany’s first radio program was broadcast from Vox-Haus; its name was also used.

Marlene Dietrich, who was born and grew up in Berlin, had not had any streets named after her in her home city, neither had Varian Fry nor Ludwig Beck, who were active in the resistance movement against the Hitler regime.

The name of the square and the district comes from the town of Potsdam. The square was originally called "Platz vor dem Potsdamer Thor" (Square before the Gate to Potsdam); Potsdamer Chaussee (Potsdam Avenue) led from here to the town of Potsdam.

Some of the streets are located on non-public land, making them private streets, but this has no discernible effects for visitors. Unrestricted access to the ground floors of all buildings is one of the most important elements of the concept of harmonious coexistence of public and private space at Potsdamer Platz.