'apteryx' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀπτερυξ (apterux)', where the prefix 'ἀ-' (a-) meant 'without' and 'πτέρυξ (pteryx)' meant 'wing'.

'apteryx' was adopted into New/Modern Latin as the scientific genus name Apteryx in zoological nomenclature (19th century) and entered English as the name for these New Zealand birds; 'apteryxes' is the regular English plural form.

Initially it meant 'without wing' (describing winglessness); over time it became a taxonomic name referring specifically to kiwi species and thus to the birds themselves.