It is named after Place Saint-Germain and the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, dedicated on 23 December 558 by the son of Clovis, Childebert I (ruled 511–558), at the request of St. Germain, Bishop of Paris.

The expression "des-Prés" refers to the Prés aux Clercs ("fields of the scholars") used for the erection of buildings to house the University of Paris.

The station was opened on 9 January 1910 as part of the connecting section of the line under the Seine between Châtelet and Raspail.

It features several portraits and anecdotes of renowned people who had lived in the vicinity in the past: Boris Vian, Jacques Prévert, Marguerite Duras, Amélie Nothomb, Roland Topor, Juliette Gréco, and Sonia Delaunay.

Several other works of art are also installed in the station: Les Messagers, a bronze sculpture by Gualtiero Busato and a mosaic by André Ropion paying homage to Johannes Gutenberg.