'Chenopodium' originates from New Latin, ultimately from Greek; specifically from the Greek word 'chenopodion', where 'chen-' (or 'chēn') meant 'goose' and 'pod-' (from 'pous') meant 'foot'.

'Chenopodium' came into botanical Latin from Greek 'chenopodion' (χρηνοπόδιον/χηνόποδιον), passing through Late Latin/New Latin usage and becoming the modern scientific genus name 'Chenopodium'.

Initially it referred to the 'goose-foot' shape of the plant's leaves; over time the term became fixed as the name of the botanical genus 'Chenopodium' and is now used primarily as a taxonomic name.