This street was originally a private way, owned by Jos Palmer c.1877, and was declared Public by Special Order in 1934 (under the WC Empowering Act 1922).
In 1969 it was renamed from Boulcott Avenue to O'Reily Avenue. It was named after Father Jeremiah Joseph Purcell O'Reily (1799-1880) who established the Catholic Church in Boulcott Street. In 1967 the spelling O'Reilly was originally suggested, and it appears to be a common misspelling; however the correct spelling was noted by Council within two days.
