'Americophilia' originates from Modern English, formed by combining 'America' and the Greek-derived suffix 'philia' (from Greek 'philia' meaning 'love' or 'friendship').

'America' itself was named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci (Latinized as 'Americus'), and the suffix 'philia' comes from Greek 'philia' ('φιλία'). The compound 'Americophilia' is a modern formation using these elements.

The Greek root 'philia' originally meant 'friendship' or 'affection'; in modern English compounds it broadly denotes fondness or love. 'Americophilia' therefore developed to mean admiration or fondness specifically directed toward the United States and its culture.