'archaeophile' originates from Greek elements via modern English formation: from Greek 'arkhaios' meaning 'ancient' () and 'philos' meaning 'loving' or 'fond of'.

'archaeo-' entered English in formations such as 'archaeology' (from Greek through Latin and French in the 18th–19th centuries), and the combining form '-phile' (from Greek 'philos' via French/Latin) was attached in modern English to create 'archaeophile'.

Initially constructed to mean 'lover of ancient things' and related to scholarly interest in antiquities; the meaning has remained essentially the same in modern usage.