'Anthicidae' originates from New Latin, formed from the genus name 'Anthicus' plus the family suffix '-idae'; 'Anthicus' itself derives from Greek root 'anth-/'anthos' meaning 'flower'.

'Anthicidae' was formed in modern taxonomic (New Latin) usage from the genus name 'Anthicus' (Latinized from Greek), creating the family name 'Anthicidae' used in entomology.

Initially the root 'anth-' meant 'flower' in Greek, but in modern scientific usage the term 'Anthicidae' denotes a specific family of beetles rather than the original literal sense of 'flower'.