'Anisopodidae' originates from New Latin, specifically from Greek roots 'anisos' and 'pous' (via the stem 'Anisopod-'), where 'anisos' meant 'unequal' and 'pous/pod-' meant 'foot'.

'Anisopodidae' changed from the New Latin form based on Greek 'Anisopod-' and later received the taxonomic family suffix '-idae', eventually becoming the modern English scientific family name 'Anisopodidae'.

Initially, it meant 'unequal-footed' (a literal description from the Greek roots), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a family of small primitive flies commonly called wood gnats or window gnats'.