'Malpighia' originates from the name of the Italian biologist Marcello Malpighi, who made significant contributions to the study of plant anatomy.

The genus name 'Malpighia' was named in honor of Marcello Malpighi, reflecting his influence in the field of botany.

Initially, it was simply a genus name, but it has come to be associated with the specific fruit-bearing plants within the genus.