'architectonica' originates from Modern Latin (New Latin), built from Greek elements: 'arkhi-' (chief, principal) and 'tekton' (builder), via Latin 'architectonicus' meaning 'pertaining to architecture or structure'.

'architectonica' developed from Greek 'arkhitektonikos' → Latin 'architectonicus' → later adopted in New Latin as the taxonomic genus name 'Architectonica'.

Initially it described something 'pertaining to architecture' or 'structural'; over time the form was adopted as a scientific genus name (for shells) and is now used primarily in taxonomy.