From 1993/94 to 2015/16, the competition had a title sponsor every season and used several sponsored names: FA Carling Premiership, Barclaycard, FA Barclays Premiership, and Barclays Premier League. Since 2016/17, it has simply been the Premier League.
The names used over time
The competition did not keep one fixed public name through that period. Its official name changed as title sponsorship changed, before returning to a plain league name in 2016/17.
- From 1993/94: FA Carling Premiership
- From 2001 to 2004: Barclaycard
- Then: FA Barclays Premiership
- From 2007/08: Barclays Premier League
- From 2016/17: Premier League
The sponsored-name era
Every Premier League season between 1993 and 2016 had a title sponsor. The sponsored wording changed more than once within that span.
The last season with a title sponsor was 2015/16. From 2016/17 onward, the sponsored wording was dropped and the competition name became Premier League.
What changed, and what did not
These name changes were changes to the competition's official title, not a switch to a different league.
Barclays Premier League was a real official name, starting from the 2007/08 campaign. Before that, the competition had been the FA Carling Premiership from 1993/94, then Barclaycard from 2001 until 2004, then the FA Barclays Premiership.
FAQ
When did the Premier League stop having a title sponsor?
The final season with a title sponsor was 2015/16. From 2016/17, the competition name was simply Premier League.
Was it really called the Barclays Premier League?
Yes. That name was used from the 2007/08 campaign onward during the sponsored-name period.
Has the Premier League changed its name?
Yes, it changed names several times between 1993/94 and 2015/16. Since 2016/17, it has used the unsponsored name Premier League.
Do Barclays still sponsor the Premier League title?
No. The title-sponsored era ended with the 2015/16 season, and the competition name from 2016/17 has been Premier League.