'aphelion' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphélion' (ἀφήλιον), where 'apo-' meant 'away' and 'hēlios' meant 'sun'.

'aphelia' (plural) derives from the Greek/Latin formation of 'aphelion'; the term passed into New Latin/Modern scientific usage as 'aphelion' and the Greek-style plural 'aphelia' is used alongside the English plural 'aphelions'.

Initially, it meant 'away from the sun' and over time this became specialized as 'the point in an orbit farthest from the Sun', a meaning retained in modern astronomical usage.