The estate was attested in written sources in 1548 as Wokhauez (and as Bokaliz in 1580, and Wokhalez in 1697). The modern Slovene name (a feminine plural) was originally an accusative plural form of the surname Bokal. The origin of the surname is unknown. It could be the result of metathesis of the surname Kobal, derived from Italian Cavallo. It is also possible, but unlikely, that the name is derived from Slovene bok 'protected place, end of a hill, sharp slope', referring to the edge of Utik Hill. In the past the German name was Strobelhof, based on the name of the family that acquired the castle in the second half of the 17th century.Krajevni leksikon Dravske Banovine. 1937. Ljubljana: Zveza za tujski promet za Slovenijo, p. 340.Savnik, Roman, ed. 1971. Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 2. Ljubljana: Državna založba Slovenije. p. 315.
