'anagallis' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anagallis', which was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'ἀναγαλλίς' (anagallís), where 'ana-' meant 'again' and 'gallō' meant 'to delight'.

'anagallis' was used in Latin and Greek to refer to the pimpernel plant, and this term was adopted directly into scientific Latin and then English as the genus name.

Initially, it referred specifically to the pimpernel plant, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage as the botanical genus name.