After several names were proposed, "Boca" (for the neighborhood) was chosen, adding "Juniors" to it after a suggestion by Sana, to highlight to name. The use of English language in football team names was commonplace, as British railway workers had originally introduced football into Argentina.

A survey by the Bundesliga published this year said River had 146,000 club members, the most in South America, but Boca said they have 193,000 members. Both clubs were founded in the poor docklands neighbourhood of Boca in the south of Buenos Aires, but River soon moved to Nunez, which became a more salubrious area.