Knockmealdown is the Anglicised form of an older Irish name. The original Irish name is widely believed to be Cnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh, meaning Muldowneys' hill. It has also been suggested that it is derived from Cnoc Maol Donn, meaning bald brown hill. In 1654 the name was recorded as Knockmealdowny, indicating there was an extra syllable at the end.