'archelon' originates from New Latin, specifically coined from Greek elements 'arkhē' and 'chelōnē', where 'arkhē' meant 'beginning, principal' and 'chelōnē' meant 'turtle'.

'archelon' was formed as a scientific genus name in New Latin by combining Greek 'arkhē' + 'chelōnē' and was adopted into English scientific usage to name the extinct marine turtle genus 'Archelon'.

Initially formed from elements meaning 'principal/ancient turtle', the term has come to refer specifically to the extinct genus Archelon rather than a general descriptive phrase.