diff --git a/packages/browser/src/exports.ts b/packages/browser/src/exports.ts
index e9050399e641..659b80bc8962 100644
--- a/packages/browser/src/exports.ts
+++ b/packages/browser/src/exports.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ export {
   makeMain,
   Scope,
   startTransaction,
+  getActiveSpan,
+  startSpan,
+  startInactiveSpan,
   SDK_VERSION,
   setContext,
   setExtra,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/index.ts b/packages/core/src/tracing/index.ts
index 470286366c81..c4ed853c5316 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export { extractTraceparentData, getActiveTransaction } from './utils';
 // eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
 export { SpanStatus } from './spanstatus';
 export type { SpanStatusType } from './span';
-export { trace, getActiveSpan, startActiveSpan, startSpan } from './trace';
+// eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
+export { trace, getActiveSpan, startSpan, startInactiveSpan, startActiveSpan } from './trace';
 export { getDynamicSamplingContextFromClient } from './dynamicSamplingContext';
 export { setMeasurement } from './measurement';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/trace.ts b/packages/core/src/tracing/trace.ts
index 0ca928e9002a..31671104bd02 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/trace.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/trace.ts
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ export function trace<T>(
 
   const parentSpan = scope.getSpan();
 
-  function startActiveSpan(): Span | undefined {
+  function createChildSpanOrTransaction(): Span | undefined {
     if (!hasTracingEnabled()) {
       return undefined;
     }
     return parentSpan ? parentSpan.startChild(ctx) : hub.startTransaction(ctx);
   }
 
-  const activeSpan = startActiveSpan();
+  const activeSpan = createChildSpanOrTransaction();
   scope.setSpan(activeSpan);
 
   function finishAndSetSpan(): void {
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ export function trace<T>(
  * The created span is the active span and will be used as parent by other spans created inside the function
  * and can be accessed via `Sentry.getSpan()`, as long as the function is executed while the scope is active.
  *
- * If you want to create a span that is not set as active, use {@link startSpan}.
+ * If you want to create a span that is not set as active, use {@link startInactiveSpan}.
  *
  * Note that if you have not enabled tracing extensions via `addTracingExtensions`
  * or you didn't set `tracesSampleRate`, this function will not generate spans
  * and the `span` returned from the callback will be undefined.
  */
-export function startActiveSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span: Span | undefined) => T): T {
+export function startSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span: Span | undefined) => T): T {
   const ctx = { ...context };
   // If a name is set and a description is not, set the description to the name.
   if (ctx.name !== undefined && ctx.description === undefined) {
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ export function startActiveSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span:
 
   const parentSpan = scope.getSpan();
 
-  function startActiveSpan(): Span | undefined {
+  function createChildSpanOrTransaction(): Span | undefined {
     if (!hasTracingEnabled()) {
       return undefined;
     }
     return parentSpan ? parentSpan.startChild(ctx) : hub.startTransaction(ctx);
   }
 
-  const activeSpan = startActiveSpan();
+  const activeSpan = createChildSpanOrTransaction();
   scope.setSpan(activeSpan);
 
   function finishAndSetSpan(): void {
@@ -141,17 +141,22 @@ export function startActiveSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span:
   return maybePromiseResult;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Use {@link startSpan} instead.
+ */
+export const startActiveSpan = startSpan;
+
 /**
  * Creates a span. This span is not set as active, so will not get automatic instrumentation spans
  * as children or be able to be accessed via `Sentry.getSpan()`.
  *
- * If you want to create a span that is set as active, use {@link startActiveSpan}.
+ * If you want to create a span that is set as active, use {@link startSpan}.
  *
  * Note that if you have not enabled tracing extensions via `addTracingExtensions`
  * or you didn't set `tracesSampleRate` or `tracesSampler`, this function will not generate spans
  * and the `span` returned from the callback will be undefined.
  */
-export function startSpan(context: TransactionContext): Span | undefined {
+export function startInactiveSpan(context: TransactionContext): Span | undefined {
   if (!hasTracingEnabled()) {
     return undefined;
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/lib/tracing/trace.test.ts b/packages/core/test/lib/tracing/trace.test.ts
index f607aa7369f9..e3469e93a2e2 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/lib/tracing/trace.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/lib/tracing/trace.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { addTracingExtensions, Hub, makeMain } from '../../../src';
-import { startActiveSpan } from '../../../src/tracing';
+import { startSpan } from '../../../src/tracing';
 import { getDefaultTestClientOptions, TestClient } from '../../mocks/client';
 
 beforeAll(() => {
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const enum Type {
 let hub: Hub;
 let client: TestClient;
 
-describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
+describe('startSpan', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     const options = getDefaultTestClientOptions({ tracesSampleRate: 0.0 });
     client = new TestClient(options);
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
   ])('with %s callback and error %s', (_type, isError, callback, expected) => {
     it('should return the same value as the callback', async () => {
       try {
-        const result = await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
+        const result = await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
           return callback();
         });
         expect(result).toEqual(expected);
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
       // if tracingExtensions are not enabled
       jest.spyOn(hub, 'startTransaction').mockReturnValue(undefined);
       try {
-        const result = await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
+        const result = await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
           return callback();
         });
         expect(result).toEqual(expected);
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
         ref = transaction;
       });
       try {
-        await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
+        await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, () => {
           return callback();
         });
       } catch (e) {
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
         ref = transaction;
       });
       try {
-        await startActiveSpan(
+        await startSpan(
           {
             name: 'GET users/[id]',
             parentSampled: true,
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
         ref = transaction;
       });
       try {
-        await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, span => {
+        await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]' }, span => {
           if (span) {
             span.op = 'http.server';
           }
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
         ref = transaction;
       });
       try {
-        await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]', parentSampled: true }, () => {
-          return startActiveSpan({ name: 'SELECT * from users' }, () => {
+        await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]', parentSampled: true }, () => {
+          return startSpan({ name: 'SELECT * from users' }, () => {
             return callback();
           });
         });
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
         ref = transaction;
       });
       try {
-        await startActiveSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]', parentSampled: true }, () => {
-          return startActiveSpan({ name: 'SELECT * from users' }, childSpan => {
+        await startSpan({ name: 'GET users/[id]', parentSampled: true }, () => {
+          return startSpan({ name: 'SELECT * from users' }, childSpan => {
             if (childSpan) {
               childSpan.op = 'db.query';
             }
diff --git a/packages/node-experimental/src/sdk/trace.ts b/packages/node-experimental/src/sdk/trace.ts
index a086b8edd2c2..e2fd14663e28 100644
--- a/packages/node-experimental/src/sdk/trace.ts
+++ b/packages/node-experimental/src/sdk/trace.ts
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ import type { NodeExperimentalClient } from './client';
  * The created span is the active span and will be used as parent by other spans created inside the function
  * and can be accessed via `Sentry.getSpan()`, as long as the function is executed while the scope is active.
  *
- * If you want to create a span that is not set as active, use {@link startSpan}.
+ * If you want to create a span that is not set as active, use {@link startInactiveSpan}.
  *
  * Note that if you have not enabled tracing extensions via `addTracingExtensions`
  * or you didn't set `tracesSampleRate`, this function will not generate spans
  * and the `span` returned from the callback will be undefined.
  */
-export function startActiveSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span: Span | undefined) => T): T {
+export function startSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span: Span | undefined) => T): T {
   const tracer = getTracer();
   if (!tracer) {
     return callback(undefined);
@@ -66,17 +66,22 @@ export function startActiveSpan<T>(context: TransactionContext, callback: (span:
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Use {@link startSpan} instead.
+ */
+export const startActiveSpan = startSpan;
+
 /**
  * Creates a span. This span is not set as active, so will not get automatic instrumentation spans
  * as children or be able to be accessed via `Sentry.getSpan()`.
  *
- * If you want to create a span that is set as active, use {@link startActiveSpan}.
+ * If you want to create a span that is set as active, use {@link startSpan}.
  *
  * Note that if you have not enabled tracing extensions via `addTracingExtensions`
  * or you didn't set `tracesSampleRate` or `tracesSampler`, this function will not generate spans
  * and the `span` returned from the callback will be undefined.
  */
-export function startSpan(context: TransactionContext): Span | undefined {
+export function startInactiveSpan(context: TransactionContext): Span | undefined {
   const tracer = getTracer();
   if (!tracer) {
     return undefined;
diff --git a/packages/node-experimental/test/sdk/trace.test.ts b/packages/node-experimental/test/sdk/trace.test.ts
index 87aae6c66689..c53606140fa1 100644
--- a/packages/node-experimental/test/sdk/trace.test.ts
+++ b/packages/node-experimental/test/sdk/trace.test.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ describe('trace', () => {
     mockSdkInit({ enableTracing: true });
   });
 
-  describe('startActiveSpan', () => {
+  describe('startSpan', () => {
     it('works with a sync callback', () => {
       const spans: Span[] = [];
 
       expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(undefined);
 
-      Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
+      Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeDefined();
         spans.push(outerSpan!);
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeInstanceOf(Transaction);
         expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(outerSpan);
 
-        Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'inner' }, innerSpan => {
+        Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'inner' }, innerSpan => {
           expect(innerSpan).toBeDefined();
           spans.push(innerSpan!);
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
 
       expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(undefined);
 
-      await Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'outer' }, async outerSpan => {
+      await Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'outer' }, async outerSpan => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeDefined();
         spans.push(outerSpan!);
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeInstanceOf(Transaction);
         expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(outerSpan);
 
-        await Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'inner' }, async innerSpan => {
+        await Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'inner' }, async innerSpan => {
           expect(innerSpan).toBeDefined();
           spans.push(innerSpan!);
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
 
       expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(undefined);
 
-      Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
+      Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeDefined();
         spans1.push(outerSpan!);
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeInstanceOf(Transaction);
         expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(outerSpan);
 
-        Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'inner' }, innerSpan => {
+        Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'inner' }, innerSpan => {
           expect(innerSpan).toBeDefined();
           spans1.push(innerSpan!);
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
         });
       });
 
-      Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'outer2' }, outerSpan => {
+      Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'outer2' }, outerSpan => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeDefined();
         spans2.push(outerSpan!);
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ describe('trace', () => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeInstanceOf(Transaction);
         expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(outerSpan);
 
-        Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'inner2' }, innerSpan => {
+        Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'inner2' }, innerSpan => {
           expect(innerSpan).toBeDefined();
           spans2.push(innerSpan!);
 
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ describe('trace', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('startSpan', () => {
+  describe('startInactiveSpan', () => {
     it('works at the root', () => {
-      const span = Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'test' });
+      const span = Sentry.startInactiveSpan({ name: 'test' });
 
       expect(span).toBeDefined();
       expect(span).toBeInstanceOf(Transaction);
@@ -150,11 +150,11 @@ describe('trace', () => {
     });
 
     it('works as a child span', () => {
-      Sentry.startActiveSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
+      Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'outer' }, outerSpan => {
         expect(outerSpan).toBeDefined();
         expect(Sentry.getActiveSpan()).toEqual(outerSpan);
 
-        const innerSpan = Sentry.startSpan({ name: 'test' });
+        const innerSpan = Sentry.startInactiveSpan({ name: 'test' });
 
         expect(innerSpan).toBeDefined();
         expect(innerSpan).toBeInstanceOf(Span);
diff --git a/packages/node/src/index.ts b/packages/node/src/index.ts
index 1c172bc89618..ab8c82e5a3fd 100644
--- a/packages/node/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/node/src/index.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ export {
   captureCheckIn,
   setMeasurement,
   getActiveSpan,
-  startActiveSpan,
   startSpan,
+  // eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
+  startActiveSpan,
+  startInactiveSpan,
 } from '@sentry/core';
 export type { SpanStatusType } from '@sentry/core';
 export { autoDiscoverNodePerformanceMonitoringIntegrations } from './tracing';
diff --git a/packages/serverless/src/index.ts b/packages/serverless/src/index.ts
index f7a195aba4e8..3d1a8c7c3aad 100644
--- a/packages/serverless/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/serverless/src/index.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ export {
   Integrations,
   setMeasurement,
   getActiveSpan,
-  startActiveSpan,
   startSpan,
+  // eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
+  startActiveSpan,
+  startInactiveSpan,
 } from '@sentry/node';
diff --git a/packages/sveltekit/src/server/index.ts b/packages/sveltekit/src/server/index.ts
index f7c0b99f6301..b4a128843217 100644
--- a/packages/sveltekit/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/sveltekit/src/server/index.ts
@@ -46,8 +46,10 @@ export {
   Handlers,
   setMeasurement,
   getActiveSpan,
-  startActiveSpan,
   startSpan,
+  // eslint-disable-next-line deprecation/deprecation
+  startActiveSpan,
+  startInactiveSpan,
 } from '@sentry/node';
 
 // We can still leave this for the carrier init and type exports