'actinophore' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aktis' meaning 'ray' and 'phoros' meaning 'bearing'.

'aktis' and 'phoros' combined in Greek to form 'actinophoros', which eventually became the modern English word 'actinophore'.

Initially, it meant 'ray-bearing', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a skeletal element in certain marine organisms'.