'Anacardium' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anakárdion' (ανακάρδιον), where 'ana-' meant 'up' or 'upon' and 'kardia' meant 'heart'.

'Anacardium' was taken from Greek 'anakárdion' and Latinized as 'Anacardium' in botanical Latin; the name was adopted by early taxonomists (including Linnaeus) as the formal genus name.

Initially, the term referred to a nut or kernel thought to be heart-like in shape; over time it became the formal name for the botanical genus that includes the cashew.