'Synodontidae' originates from New Latin, specifically from the genus name 'Synodus' combined with the suffix '-idae', which is used in zoological taxonomy to denote a family.

'Synodus' comes from Greek, where 'syn-' means 'together' and 'odous' means 'tooth', referring to the fish's teeth arrangement. The suffix '-idae' was added to form the family name in scientific classification.

Initially, it referred specifically to the genus 'Synodus', but with the addition of '-idae', it came to represent the entire family of related lizardfishes.