'aphanite' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphanēs', where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'phanēs' meant 'seen' or 'visible', combined with the mineral/rock-forming suffix '-ite'.

'aphanite' was formed in scientific/technical usage from New Latin/Greek elements (Greek 'aphanēs' + suffix '-ite') and entered modern geological English in the 19th century via scientific literature.

Initially, the Greek root meant 'not visible' or 'invisible'; over time this sense was applied in geology to describe rocks whose crystals are not visible, yielding the modern meaning 'fine-grained igneous rock with crystals too small to see.'