Named after the rue de l'Ourcq, which crosses the canal de l'Ourcq.
Built from 1802 to 1825, the canal was first meant to bring drinking water to Paris from the river Ourcq, north-east of the city. The street, in the former commune of La Villette, joined three roads – rue Royale, rue Saint-Denis and chemin de Saint-Ouen – which were united under the present name by an order of 20 July 1868.