It was named by United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Donald B. Siniff, leader of a United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) party that studied population dynamics and behavior of Weddell seals in the McMurdo Sound area, 1971–72.

He also worked in the McMurdo Station area the three preceding austral summers and participated in the International Weddell Sea Oceanographic Expedition, 1967–68.

Verleger, United States Navy Reserve, Master of the Jacob Ruppert on the first trip to Bay of Whales (1933) during ByrdAE, 1933-35.

Named by US-ACAN for Captain Frederick C. Melville, Master of the City of New York in voyages to the Bay of Whales during the ByrdAE, 1928-30.

Named by US-ACAN for Stephen D. Rose, First Officer of the Bear of Oakland on the first voyage to Bay of Whales (1933).

A glacier about 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) long, flowing north from McDonald Heights into Siniff Bay.

From 1954-58, he served on the National Academy of Sciences staff and made substantial contribution to the Committee on Polar Research in the planning and carrying out of the US-IGY program.