'antilopinae' originates from New Latin, formed from the genus name 'Antilope' (Modern Latin/Neo-Latin 'Antilope') with the zoological suffix '-inae' that denotes a subfamily.

'Antilope' ultimately derives from Greek (classical/late) 'anthólops' (ἀνθόλωψ / ἀνθόλοψ), meaning an antelope‑like animal; through Medieval and Modern Latin and taxonomic practice the form 'Antilopinae' was created to name the subfamily in scientific Latin.

Originally the root referred to the animal 'antelope' in general language; over time it was formalized in scientific Latin and now denotes specifically the taxonomic subfamily of those antelope species.