bᵻfˌoːɹ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, ɡwˈɑː mjˈuːsæŋ dˈɪstɹɪkt wʌz nˈoʊn æz ˈuːluː kˈɛlæntən ˌʌpɚ kˈɛlæntən dˈɪstɹɪkt, æz ɪt kəntˈeɪnz smˈɔːlɚ ɹˈɪvɚz ðæt wɪl lˈeɪɾɚ kənvˈɜːdʒ tə fˈɔːɹm ðə kˈɛlæntən ɹˈɪvɚ.
Before 1986, Gua Musang District was known as Ulu Kelantan (Upper Kelantan) district, as it contains smaller rivers that will later converge to form the Kelantan River.