Initially it was called Ministry of Religion and Public Instruction (Romanian: Ministerul Religiei și Instrucțiunii Publice), then Ministry of Public Instruction (Romanian: Ministerul Instrucțiunii Publice), then it changed to Ministry of Teaching (Romanian: Ministerul Învățământului), Ministry of Teaching and Science (Romanian: Ministerul Învățământului și Științei), then changed back to Ministry of Teaching (Romanian: Ministerul Învățământului).

When Andrei Marga became Minister, it introduced the largest reform measures, starting with the name of the institution: Ministry of National Education (Romanian: Ministerul Educației Naționale).

In 2000 the name was changed to Ministry of Education and Research (Romanian: Ministerul Educației și Cercetării).

This title was kept until April 2007, when it changed to Ministry of Education, Research and Youth (Romanian: Ministerul Educației, Cercetării și Tineretului).

On 21 December 2012 the title was changed to Ministry of National Education (Romanian: Ministerul Educației Naționale) and was kept until 17 December 2014, when it changed to Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research (Romanian: Ministerul Educaței Naționale și Cercetării Științifice) This title was kept until 4 January 2017, when it changed back to Ministry of National Education.