'Apollinarian' originates from Latin, specifically the name 'Apollinaris', which itself is from the Greek 'Apollinaris' (from the name 'Apollo'), meaning 'belonging to Apollo' or 'of Apollo'.

'Apollinaris' was a proper name in Late Antiquity (Greek/Latin); the English adjective and noun 'Apollinarian' developed from this proper name to denote the person(s) and doctrines associated with Apollinaris (notably Apollinaris of Laodicea) and was used in theological contexts from the early history of the controversy onward.

Initially the element referred simply to the personal name 'Apollinaris' (i.e. 'of Apollo' as a name); over time it came to denote doctrines derived from that person and those who adhered to them, so now it means 'relating to or a follower of Apollinaris/Apollinarianism'.