'Anomodontia' originates from New Latin (a modern scientific Latin formation), constructed from Greek elements: 'anomalos' (ἄνομαλος) meaning 'irregular' or 'uneven' and 'odṓn' (ὀδών) meaning 'tooth'.

'Anomodontia' was coined in modern taxonomic usage in the 19th century by forming a Latinized group name from Greek roots; it entered English scientific literature as the formal name for this clade of therapsids.

Initially the components literally referred to 'irregular-toothed ones', but over time the term has come to denote this specific clade of herbivorous therapsids rather than a literal description of tooth shape for every member.