'Matelea' originates from New Latin, specifically the botanical genus name 'Matelea', where the precise original root is uncertain (possibly derived from a Latinized form of a classical or personal name).

'Matelea' was coined as a New Latin botanical genus name in modern botanical nomenclature and was adopted into English botanical usage unchanged as 'Matelea'.

Initially, it referred specifically to the genus name in botanical Latin; over time it has retained its taxonomic meaning as the plant genus 'Matelea'.