'Anomalopteryx' originates from Greek via New Latin, specifically the Greek words 'anomalos' and 'pteryx', where 'anomalos' meant 'uneven, irregular' and 'pteryx' meant 'wing'.

'Anomalopteryx' was coined in New Latin as a scientific genus name formed from Greek roots and adopted in zoological nomenclature in the 19th century.

Initially the elements meant 'irregular' and 'wing', but the combined form came to be used as a taxonomic name for a genus of moa rather than a literal description of wing shape.