The name is derived from Ainu languages which means the mountain which bears/gods tumble down. However Ainu people who worship bears as gods are not the one who gave it the name. Originally the mountain was called Satsunai mountain (札内岳). In 1929, Ito Shugoro and others from Hokkaido University built a hut at a place called Kamuiekuuchikau which located upstream of Tottabetsu river as a preparation for attacking the Mount Poroshiri. At that time a guide mistakingly told them the name of place as the mountain where they were, and thus the name has been stuck.