'anoplura' originates from New Latin, taken from Greek elements — specifically the words 'anoplos' (ἀνόπλος) meaning 'unarmed' and 'oura' (οὐρά) meaning 'tail'.

'anoplura' was formed in New Latin in the 19th century as a scientific name for the order of sucking lice; it was coined from Greek elements and entered modern zoological usage without major change.

Initially the components referred to a morphological notion ('unarmed tail'), but over time the compound came to denote the taxonomic order of blood‑sucking lice.