The official name is the James "Sunny Jim" Rolph Bridge,
named after San Francisco's popular mayor who had recently died.


In December 2004, a resolution was made to rename the bridge in honor of San Francisco's colorful character, Emperor Norton who, as self-proclaimed 'Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico' commanded a bridge be constructed in the 1870s.
However the city of Oakland objected to the resolution and it has not progress further.