'anthophora' originates from Modern Latin (used as a genus name), ultimately from Greek 'anthophoros', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'phoros' (from phérein) meant 'bearing'.

'anthophora' changed from Greek 'anthophoros' into a Latinized scientific name 'Anthophora' and has been used in taxonomy as the modern genus name 'Anthophora'.

Initially it meant 'flower-bearing' in Greek, but over time it became the name for a genus of bees (i.e., 'a flower-visiting/dwelling bee').