'Aphroditean' originates from Greek, specifically the name 'Aphrodítē' (Αφροδίτη), where the element 'aphros' meant 'foam' (related to the birth myth of Aphrodite from sea-foam). The adjectival ending '-ean' comes from Latin/Greek-derived suffixes used to form adjectives meaning 'related to' or 'of'.

'Aphrodite' comes from Ancient Greek 'Aphrodítē' and passed into Latin as 'Aphrodita'; English adopted the proper name 'Aphrodite' and later formed the adjective by adding the suffix '-ean' (from Latin/Greek adjectival formation) to yield 'Aphroditean'.

Initially the name referred specifically to the goddess 'Aphrodite'; over time adjectival uses of the name came to denote not only direct relation to the deity but also qualities associated with her—beauty, love, sensuality—so 'Aphroditean' now commonly evokes those attributes.