'actinozoan' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'aktis' meaning 'ray' and 'zoon' meaning 'animal'.

'actinozoan' changed from the Greek word 'aktinozoon' and eventually became the modern English word 'actinozoan'.

Initially, it meant 'ray animal', referring to the radial symmetry of these creatures, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.