'arbacia' originates from Neo-Latin (taxonomic Latin), specifically the genus name 'Arbacia' used in scientific nomenclature; the form is a Latinized generic name coined for zoological classification.

'arbacia' was adopted into scientific Latin in modern taxonomy (18th–19th century) as a formal genus name for certain echinoids and has been carried through zoological literature to the present.

Initially used solely as a coined Latin genus name for this group of sea urchins; its meaning has remained specialized as the taxonomic name for that genus.