'Trientalis' originates from New Latin (botanical Latin), specifically the Latinized formation 'Trientalis', where the prefix 'tri-' meant 'three' (from Greek 'tri-') and the rest is a Latinized suffix used in botanical names.

'Trientalis' was formed as a New Latin botanical name in modern taxonomic usage and entered English scientific vocabulary as the accepted genus name for certain Primulaceae species (e.g., Trientalis europaea).

Initially a Latinized compound referencing roots (likely indicating a feature counted as three), it evolved into a fixed scientific genus name in botanical nomenclature and is now used as a taxonomic label.