'alkannin' originates from the Arabic word 'al-ḥinnā', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'ḥinnā' referred to the henna plant.

'al-ḥinnā' transformed into the medieval Latin word 'alcanna', and eventually became the modern English word 'alkannin'.

Initially, it referred to the henna plant, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a red dye from the alkanet root.