'actinidia' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aktis,' where 'aktis' meant 'ray' or 'beam,' referring to the radiating arrangement of the plant's flowers.

'aktis' transformed into the Latin word 'actinidia,' and eventually became the modern English word 'actinidia' through botanical Latin.

Initially, it referred to the radiating arrangement of the plant's flowers, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.