'Antares' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'Ἀντάρης' (Antárēs), where the prefix 'anti-' meant 'against' or 'rival of' and 'Ares' referred to the Greek god of war (Ares, associated with the planet Mars).

'Antares' passed into Medieval Latin and later into modern European languages as the proper name for the star, becoming the modern English 'Antares'.

Initially it meant 'rival of Ares' (i.e., 'rival to Mars' because of its red color), but over time it became established as the proper name of the red supergiant star now called Antares.