'aquamarine' originates from Latin, specifically the phrase 'aqua marina', where 'aqua' meant 'water' and 'marina' meant 'of the sea'.

'aquamarine' passed into English via Medieval Latin 'aquamarinus' (and Old French forms such as 'aigue-marine'), and eventually became the modern English word 'aquamarine'.

Initially it referred to the sea-water color or the sea-green stone (a variety of beryl); over time it came to denote both the specific gemstone and the pale bluish-green color associated with it.