Named after the esplanade of La Défense, on whose eastern side it lies.
The business district takes its name from La Défense de Paris, a bronze group by Louis-Ernest Barrias honouring the soldiers who defended Paris in the war of 1870. Unveiled in 1883 at the rond-point de Courbevoie, it gave the roundabout its name, later shortened to La Défense; since 2022 it has stood on the esplanade. The station was planned as Puteaux – Courbevoie.