'aminophenazone' originates from the modern chemical combining form 'amino-' (from 'amine', a term established in 19th-century chemistry) combined with the chemical name 'phenazone' (a pyrazolone analgesic name).

'phenazone' was coined in the late 19th century for a pyrazolone analgesic; the compound name 'aminophenazone' arose later by adding the 'amino-' prefix to indicate an amino-substituted derivative, and was used in the early 20th century to name the specific drug.

Initially it strictly designated the 'amino' derivative of phenazone as a chemical entity; over time it came to be used as the name of the pharmaceutical drug and is now historically associated with its analgesic/antipyretic use and safety profile.