'acubens' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'acubens,' where 'acu-' meant 'sharp' and 'bens' referred to 'claw.'

'acubens' has remained largely unchanged from its Latin origins, maintaining its reference to the star in the Cancer constellation.

Initially, it referred to the 'claw' of the crab in the Cancer constellation, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.