'archvampire' originates from a combination of the Greek-derived prefix 'arch-' and the Slavic word 'vampir' (via English 'vampire'), where 'arch-' meant 'chief, principal' and 'vampir' referred to a 'blood-drinking undead being'.

'vampire' entered English in the 18th century from Slavic languages (e.g. Serbian 'vampir') and spread through European languages; the prefix 'arch-' comes from Greek 'arkhi-' (through Latin/French use in compounds). The modern compound 'archvampire' was formed in English by combining these elements to mean a chief vampire.

Initially the elements meant 'chief' (arch-) and 'undead blood-drinker' (vampir); over time the compound came to mean specifically a supreme or principal vampire in fictional contexts.