'ammonoidea' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ammōn,' where 'ammōn' referred to the Egyptian god Ammon, often depicted with ram's horns, resembling the spiral shape of the shells.

'ammonoidea' changed from the Greek word 'ammōn' and eventually became the modern scientific term 'ammonoidea' through Latin.

Initially, it referred to the god Ammon, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a group of extinct marine mollusks.