'anthocerote' originates from New Latin, specifically from the generic name 'Anthoceros' (and the group name 'Anthocerotae'), where Greek 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'keras' (or 'keros') meant 'horn'.

'anthocerote' changed from the Greek/Latin botanical name 'Anthoceros' (Greek) to New Latin 'Anthocerotae' and was later adopted into English as 'anthocerote' to refer to members of that group.

Initially it referred to the compound idea 'flower-horn' (describing the hornlike sporophyte), but over time it evolved into the botanical term meaning 'a hornwort (a non-vascular plant)'.