The Rue de Ménilmontant is a street which runs through the 20th arrondissement of Paris, France.

[1] The street, formerly a chemin (path), took its name from the hamlet of Mesnil-Maudan, that it led to, in the 13th century.

In 1732, the street was altered to be less steep; in 1733, it was made wider; and in 1734, by order of King Louis XV, trees were planted on both sides.

The word mesnil (from the latin masnilium) meant "country house" and was also sometimes used to designate a hamlet.

The name later became Mesnil-Mautemps then Mal-Temps and finally Mesnil-Montant,[4] probably due to the steepness of the street (montant meaning "climbing").