Loyalists councillors are turning to Stormont in a bid to avert "Derry" being officially recognised as the city's name.
Last January, nationalist/republican-dominated Derry City Council voted to remove the prefix "London" from the city's name bringing it in line with council's official appellation.
But loyalists will travel to Belfast tomorrow to meet Stormont environment minister, Ms Angela Smith, to urge her to become involved in their effort to avert the change.
Stormont sources insist the final call will rest with the British government.
Progressive Unionist councillor, Mr Ken Wilkinson said the proposed name-change was a parity-of-esteem issue.
"The council's name has already been changed so the city must stay the same to give both sides a sense of belonging." There are also suggestions Queen Elizabeth may be drawn into the argument as a name change may require Royal decree.
"Sinn Fein seem to decide all issues so that everything red, white and blue is sectarian and everything green, white and gold is classed as culture," Mr Wilkinson said.
But Sinn Féin's Mr Barney O'Hagan, who proposed the name change passed by Derry City Council in January, said the aim was to "depoliticise the name of Derry caused by the London prefix".
"People's discomfort is obvious by the plethora of names used, but nationalists, republicans and unionists can all identify with Derry.
"It will take all politics out of it and give us not only a civic identity but the corporate identity we need to market this city."