The name Smrje is probably derived from *Smьrďane, a plural demonym from the Slaviccommon noun*smьrdъ 'simple man'. However, it may also be derived from the identical Slavic common noun *smьrdъ 'juniper' and may thereforerefer tothe local vegetation.
Smrje is the site of five known mass graves or unmarked graves the end of the Second World War. They all contain the remains of German soldiers from the 97th Corps that fell at the beginning of May 1945. The Ravence Mass Grave is located in a meadow south of Smrje and contains the remains of three soldiers. The Ločice 1 Mass Grave lies in a swampy meadow south of the village and contains the remains of two soldiers. The adjacent Ločice 2 Mass Grave lies on the edge of the meadow and contains the remains of 10 or 11 soldiers. The Breg Grave is located about northwest of the church and about north of the house at Smrje no. 5, and contains the remains of one soldier. The Rob Grave is located on the edge of a meadow southeast of the village and contains the remains of one soldier.