'anthocerotophyte' originates from New Latin (taxonomic formation) via 'Anthocerotophyta', ultimately from Greek 'anthoceros' where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'keras' meant 'horn', combined with Greek 'phyton' meaning 'plant'.

'anthocerotophyte' was formed from the New Latin name 'Anthocerotophyta' (the name for the hornwort division) and entered scientific English usage in modern botanical taxonomy as the term for members of that group.

Initially, it referred specifically to organisms classified in the division Anthocerotophyta (hornworts), and over time it has retained that specialized botanical meaning: 'a hornwort'.