The station opened in 1920 as Sound View Avenue, named after an old local road.
NYC Parks says Soundview Avenue was part of the colonial road to Clason Point. For the later Soundview Park, acquired from 1937, local lore says Robert Moses chose ‘Lafayette Park’ until residents, favouring a local name, prevailed; NYC Parks says ‘Soundview’ was inspired by historical maps showing the East River as part of Long Island Sound. In 1967 Borough President Herman Badillo chose Sound View for the wider area.