Named after the bow-shaped bridge over the River Lea.
In 1110 Queen Matilda reputedly fell into the water at the ford here on her way to Barking Abbey, and ordered a three-arched, bow-shaped bridge. The village became Stratford-atte-Bow, 'at the Bow', later shortened to Bow to tell it apart from Stratford Langthorne on the Essex bank. Wellington Road and then Bow were considered as names for the station.