[3]: 197 It owes its original name Étoile to its location under the Place de l'Étoile, as it is then called because of the multiple avenues that intersect there, thus giving it the shape of a star.

The station was modernized around the 1950s with the installation of sand-colored tiles in the connecting corridors, while the platforms of line 1, like the majority of its stopping points, were extended 90 meters to accommodate six-car trainsets between May 1963 and December 1964.

As at the Bastille on the same line, the presence of curves upstream and downstream from the station precluded an extension to 105 meters as initially envisaged.

On 16 July 2018, part of the nameplates of the platforms on lines 2 and 6 were temporarily replaced to celebrate France's victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, as at five other stations.

[7] The station has 11 entrances: The platforms of line 1, 90 meters long and slightly curved to the west, are of standard configuration.

The advertising frames are made of white ceramic and the name of the station is written in Parisine typeface on backlit panels mostly incorporated in wooden clad boxes.

A second lighting canopy made up of partially concealed tubes illuminates the walls of the landing platform, which is provided with gray metallic advertising frames, and the name of the station is in capital letters on enameled plates.

In the film Fear Over the City by Henri Verneuil with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Charles Denner, released in 1975, part of Marcucci's pursuit in Paris takes place in the corridors of the station.

The film Les Rois mages by Bernard Campan and Didier Bourdon (2001) depicts the three magi who returned to earth after two thousand years: on the trail of the Star, they finally discover the newborn they are looking for in the corridors of Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station.