'Menispermaceae' originates from New Latin (botanical), specifically from the genus name 'Menispermum' plus the family-forming suffix '-aceae', where 'Menispermum' comes from Greek 'mēn' (moon) and 'sperma' (seed).

'Menispermaceae' developed when the Greek roots 'mēn' and 'sperma' combined into the genus name 'Menispermum' in Classical/Modern Latin usage; later, the standard botanical family ending '-aceae' (from Latinized Greek) was added to form the family name 'Menispermaceae' in modern taxonomic nomenclature.

Initially it referred to the moon-shaped seed ('moon-seed'); over time the term became the formal name for the entire plant family now known as 'Menispermaceae'.