A signal name based method for automatic signal exchange between multiple embedded CPU boards, includes: dividing CPU boards into master board and slave board, where each slave board sends signal registration information to the master board; reading an exchange relationship between an output signal and an input signal that is represented by a connection line between signal names, calculating and allocating a data bus address to which the output signal and the input signal are mapped, and sending memory addresses, data types, and bus addresses of signals to each slave board; saving these as output signal tables and input signal tables; and writing, by a signal sender, a value of an output signal into a corresponding bus address according to the output signal tables, and reading, by a receiver, a value of an input signal from a corresponding bus address according to the input signal tables.