'Anthrenus' originates from Neo-Latin (a Latinized form of Greek), specifically from the Greek root 'anthos', where 'anth-' meant 'flower'.

'Anthrenus' derived from the Greek element 'anthos' ('flower') and was Latinized in Neo-Latin for use as a scientific genus name, later adopted unchanged into modern biological English as 'Anthrenus'.

Initially, the root referred to 'flower' or 'flower-related', but over time it evolved into the taxonomic name for a genus of beetles (many of whose adults are associated with flowers).