'Sapindus' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'sapindus', where 'sapo' meant 'soap' and 'Indus' meant 'of India'.

'Sapindus' likely passed into botanical Latin from earlier usage in Greek or Latin referring to 'soap' plants; the classical name was adopted into modern scientific nomenclature as the genus name 'Sapindus'.

Initially, the name referred to a 'soap-related (Indian) plant' or its soap-producing fruit; over time it became the formal botanical genus name for those soapberry-producing species.