 The name of the club had a direct reference to the ethnic tensions that took place in the area at that time.Due to the Young Turks' revolt of 1908 and their promises for ease of ethnic tensions in the area, the club was forced to change its name.Thus a new name was decided for the club, "Ottomanikos Ellinikos Gymnastikos Syllogos Thessalonikis "Iraklis"" (meaning "Ottoman Greek Gymnastics Club of Thessaloniki "Iraklis"").