'Tupinambis' originates from Portuguese, specifically the word 'Tupinambis', derived from 'Tupinamba' (the name of an indigenous people of Brazil).

'Tupinambis' changed from the Tupi or Tupi–Guarani word 'Tupinambá' into Portuguese 'Tupinambis' and was later adopted into scientific Latin as the genus name 'Tupinambis'.

Initially, it referred to the Tupinamba people or things associated with them, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a genus of large South American lizards.