The street bears since the 13th century the name of "Mont Orgueilleux" (proud mount), because it led on a height. According to Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables, the rue de Montorgueil owes its name to the instrument used to carry heavy loads to a low height, the jack once called "the pride". This street was also the place of arrival of fishs coming from the ports of northern France (fishmongers path), in particular oysters, for which a market was located on the site of rue Étienne-Marcel. This practice continues, especially with the restaurant Au Rocher de Cancale.