'Mammuthus' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Mammuthus', where it was formed from the English word 'mammoth' (ultimately from Russian 'mamont' and older Uralic sources) combined with the Latin masculine suffix '-us'.

'Mammuthus' changed from Russian 'mamont' (borrowed into English as 'mammoth') and was later Latinized in scientific nomenclature in the 19th century as 'Mammuthus'.

Initially, related roots referred to the notion 'earth-horn' or 'ivory dug from the ground' in Uralic/Russian contexts, but over time the term was applied as the scientific name for the extinct proboscidean genus 'Mammuthus'.