'anatase' originates from French, specifically the word 'anatase', which was derived from Greek 'anatasis', where 'ana-' meant 'up' and 'tasis' meant 'extension'.

'anatase' was borrowed from French 'anatase' in the early 19th century, which itself came from Greek 'anatasis', and eventually became the modern English word 'anatase'.

Initially, it referred to the mineral's elongated crystal form, but over time it became the standard name for this specific mineral form of titanium dioxide.