'argan' originates from Berber (Amazigh), specifically the word 'argan', where the root referred to the tree and its fruit.

'argan' passed into Moroccan Arabic as 'argan' and was later adopted into European languages (notably French) as 'argan'/'arganier', eventually entering modern English as 'argan'.

Initially, it meant 'the tree' (and its fruit); over time the word also came to refer to the oil and related cosmetic/culinary products, broadening from a botanical name to a product name.