'ambarella' originates from Sinhalese, specifically the word 'අඹරැල්ල', where 'අඹ' meant 'mango' and 'රැල්ල' meant 'wave'.

'අඹරැල්ල' transformed into the English word 'ambarella' through transliteration.

Initially, it referred to the fruit itself, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.