The settlement was officially known as Planina in the 19th century, but by the 20th century the name Sveti Križ nad Jesenicami (literally, 'Holy Cross above Jesenice') was also used. The name of the settlement was changed from Sveti Križ to Planina pod Golico (literally, 'pasture below Golica') in 1955. The name was changed on the basis of the 1948 Law on Names of Settlements and Designations of Squares, Streets, and Buildings as part of efforts by Slovenia's postwar communist government to remove religious elements from toponyms.