'Arenga' originates from Malay, specifically the word 'aren', where the root meant 'sugar palm'.

'Arenga' changed from the Malay word 'aren' and was adopted into New Latin botanical usage as the genus name 'Arenga', eventually becoming the modern scientific name 'Arenga'.

Initially, it meant 'sugar palm', but over time it evolved into its current usage as the scientific genus name for these palms.