'ancistrocladus' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'ankistron' meaning 'hook' and 'klados' meaning 'branch', referring to the hooked branches of the plant.

'ancistrocladus' was adopted as a genus name in modern botanical Latin, derived from Greek roots, and became the scientific name for this group of plants.

Initially, it referred specifically to the hooked branches, but now it is used as the scientific name for the entire genus of these climbing plants.