'alcyonacean' originates from the Greek word 'alkyon,' meaning 'kingfisher,' due to the resemblance of some corals to the bird's nest.

The term 'alcyonacean' was derived from the Greek 'alkyon' and adapted into scientific Latin as 'Alcyonacea,' eventually becoming the English term 'alcyonacean.'

Initially, it referred to a specific type of coral resembling a kingfisher's nest, and this meaning has remained consistent.