'Apocynaceae' originates from New Latin (Neo-Latin) as a botanical family name, formed from the genus name 'Apocynum' plus the standard family suffix '-aceae'.

'Apocynaceae' ultimately derives from the Greek-derived genus name 'Apocynum' (Latinized), which itself comes from Greek elements 'apo-' and 'kyōn' (κύων, 'dog'); the Neo-Latin family name was created by adding '-aceae' to the genus name in modern botanical Latin.

Originally the element 'Apocynum' referred (via Greek) to the notion 'away from dog' or a plant associated with dogs (historically reflecting toxicity to dogs); over time the term became a neutral scientific name for the genus and then for the plant family 'Apocynaceae'.