'Araucaria' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Araucaria', which ultimately derives from the Spanish place-name 'Araucanía' (the region in southern Chile associated with the Araucanian/Mapuche people).

'Araucaria' was adopted into botanical Latin in the 18th century as the Linnaean taxonomy was developed; the name comes from Spanish explorers' use of the place-name 'Araucanía', itself taken from the name applied to the local indigenous people, and was transferred to the genus of trees found in that region.

Initially the root referred to a geographic/ethnic name ('Araucanía' — the region/people), but it was later applied in scientific nomenclature to designate a genus of trees; the meaning thus shifted from place/people-name to botanical genus.