'Livistona' originates from Modern Latin, formed as a Latinized commemorative name based on an English surname (rendered as 'Liviston'/'Livingstone' in English).

'Livistona' was coined in botanical Latin in the 19th century as the scientific genus name and was adopted into English botanical usage without change.

Initially it functioned primarily as a commemorative Latinized name; over time it became established as the formal scientific name for the genus of fan palms now called 'Livistona'.