'alcea' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'alcea', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'Ἀλθαία' ('althaia'), where the root 'alth-' meant 'to heal' (referring to medicinal plants).

'alcea' changed from Ancient Greek 'althaia' into Latin as 'alcea' and was later adopted as the modern botanical genus name 'Alcea' in scientific Latin.

Initially it referred (via Greek) to plants used for healing, but over time it became the name of a specific genus of mallow plants (hollyhocks).