'2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine' originates from systematic chemical nomenclature: numeric locants (2,4,6 and 1,3,5) plus the prefix 'tri-' from Greek meaning 'three', 'amino' from 'amine' (derived from ammonia), and 'triazine' formed from 'tri-' and the suffix '-azine' which denotes a nitrogen-containing heterocycle (the '-az-' element ultimately linked to French 'azote' for nitrogen).

'triazine' was coined in 19th-century organic chemistry by combining Greek 'tri-' (three) with the chemical suffix '-azine'; 'amine' derives from names for ammonia established in the late 18th–19th centuries. The trivial name 'melamine' was used historically after the compound's discovery, and the fully systematic locant-based name '2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine' developed later with modern IUPAC nomenclature in the 20th century.

Initially the substance was commonly referred to by trivial names such as 'melamine' after its discovery; over time, to specify structure exactly, the systematic name '2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine' became used in technical contexts while the trivial name remained in general use.