'aissaoua' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'عيساوة', referring to followers of the Sufi saint Sidi Mohammed Ben Aïssa.

The term 'aissaoua' was adopted into French and then into English, maintaining its reference to the Sufi brotherhood.

Initially, it referred specifically to followers of Sidi Mohammed Ben Aïssa, but now it broadly refers to members of the brotherhood.