'Achillea' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Achilleios', where 'Achilleios' referred to the Greek hero Achilles, who was said to have used the plant for healing wounds.

'Achilleios' transformed into the Latin word 'Achillea', and eventually became the modern English word 'Achillea'.

Initially, it referred to the plant associated with Achilles, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a genus of flowering plants.