'Aphelinus' originates from New Latin, coined as a scientific genus name in zoological taxonomy (modern scientific Latin); it was formed for taxonomic use rather than taken directly from a single classical word.

'Aphelinus' was introduced in modern taxonomic literature (New Latin) and has been used unchanged as the genus name in entomological works since its coinage.

The term has always been used primarily as a scientific label for a taxonomic group; its meaning has remained that of a genus name for these parasitic wasps.