Associated to the French public broadcasting operator, this orchestra has been known under different names since its creation:
• 1944-1964 - Named Orchestre national de la radiodiffusion-télévision française or [a=Orchestre National De La R.T.F.] or Orchestre national de la radiodiffusion française, conducted by Manuel Rosenthal (1944-1947), [a=Roger Desormiere] (1947-1951), [a=Maurice Le Roux] (1960-1964).

• 1964-1974 - Renamed Orchestre national de l'office de la radiodiffusion-télévision française, Orchestre national de France or [a=Orchestre National De L'ORTF], conducted by [a=Maurice Le Roux] 1964-1967), Jean Martinon (1968-1973), Sergiu Celibidache (1973-1974).

• 1974 - Renamed Orchestre national de Radio France or Orchestre national de France, conducted by Lorin Maazel (1987-1991), Charles Dutoit (1991-2001), Kurt Masur (2002-2008), [a=Daniele Gatti] (2008-).