'Aphroditidae' originates from New Latin, specifically the genus name 'Aphrodita' combined with the taxonomic family suffix '-idae', where 'Aphrodita' refers to the Greek name 'Aphrodite' (the goddess).

'Aphroditidae' was formed in modern biological nomenclature by adding the family-forming suffix '-idae' to the genus name 'Aphrodita' (from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη), producing the family name used in Linnaean taxonomy.

Initially associated with the proper name of the Greek goddess (and etymologically linked to the Greek word for sea-foam, 'aphros'), the term evolved in scientific usage to denote a specific family of marine worms.