diff --git a/swh/graphql/backends/archive.py b/swh/graphql/backends/archive.py
--- a/swh/graphql/backends/archive.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/backends/archive.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
         first: int = 50,
         target_types: Optional[List[str]] = None,
         name_include: Optional[bytes] = None,
+        name_exclude_prefix: Optional[bytes] = None,
     ) -> Optional[PartialBranches]:
         return self.storage.snapshot_get_branches(
             snapshot_id=snapshot,
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@
             branches_count=first,
             target_types=target_types,
             branch_name_include_substring=name_include,
+            branch_name_exclude_prefix=name_exclude_prefix,
         )
 
     def get_revisions(self, revision_ids: List[Sha1Git]) -> List[Optional[Revision]]:
diff --git a/swh/graphql/resolvers/snapshot_branch.py b/swh/graphql/resolvers/snapshot_branch.py
--- a/swh/graphql/resolvers/snapshot_branch.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/resolvers/snapshot_branch.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@
             first=self._get_first_arg(),
             target_types=self.kwargs.get("types"),
             name_include=self._get_name_include_arg(),
+            name_exclude_prefix=self._get_name_exclude_prefix_arg(),
         )
         # endCursor is the last branch name, logic for that
         end_cusrsor = (
@@ -119,6 +120,10 @@
         name_include = self.kwargs.get("nameInclude", None)
         return name_include.encode() if name_include else None
 
+    def _get_name_exclude_prefix_arg(self):
+        name_exclude_prefix = self.kwargs.get("nameExcludePrefix", None)
+        return name_exclude_prefix.encode() if name_exclude_prefix else None
+
     def _get_index_cursor(self, index: int, node: BaseSnapshotBranchNode):
         # Snapshot branch is using a different cursor, hence the override
         return utils.get_encoded_cursor(node.name)
diff --git a/swh/graphql/schema/schema.graphql b/swh/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
--- a/swh/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
+++ b/swh/graphql/schema/schema.graphql
@@ -401,9 +401,14 @@
     types: [BranchTargetType]
 
     """
-    Filter by branch name
+    Return branches whose name contains the given substring
     """
     nameInclude: String
+
+    """
+    Do not return branches whose name contains the given prefix
+    """
+    nameExcludePrefix: String
   ): BranchConnection
 }
 
diff --git a/swh/graphql/tests/functional/test_branch_connection.py b/swh/graphql/tests/functional/test_branch_connection.py
--- a/swh/graphql/tests/functional/test_branch_connection.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/tests/functional/test_branch_connection.py
@@ -127,6 +127,14 @@
         assert name in node["name"]["text"]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["target", "target/dir"])
+def test_get_name_exclude_prefix_filter(client, name):
+    swhid = "swh:1:snp:0e7f84ede9a254f2cd55649ad5240783f557e65f"
+    data, _ = get_branches(client, swhid, 10, nameExcludePrefix=f'"{name}"')
+    for node in data["snapshot"]["branches"]["nodes"]:
+        assert not node["name"]["text"].startswith(name)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("count", [1, 2])
 def test_get_first_arg(client, count):
     swhid = "swh:1:snp:0e7f84ede9a254f2cd55649ad5240783f557e65f"