'alkane' originates from the International Scientific Vocabulary, combining 'alkyl' and the suffix '-ane', where 'alkyl' refers to a type of hydrocarbon group.

'alkane' was derived from the term 'alkyl' in the late 19th century, which itself was formed from 'alcohol' and the suffix '-yl'.

Initially, it referred to any saturated hydrocarbon, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.