'aristolochiales' originates from New Latin (botanical Latin), specifically formed from the genus name 'Aristolochia' plus the taxonomic suffix '-ales' used for plant orders; 'Aristolochia' itself derives from Greek elements where 'aristós' meant 'best' and 'lóchia' related to 'childbirth' (referring to historical medicinal uses).

'Aristolochia' (a Greek-derived genus name) was adopted into New Latin as 'Aristolochia'; by modern botanical Latin conventions the order name was created as 'Aristolochiales' (genus + '-ales') and used in 19th and 20th century classifications before some groups were reorganized.

Initially the root referred to the genus name and its associations (including medicinal uses); over time the derived form 'Aristolochiales' came to denote the higher taxonomic rank (an order) in botanical classification, a more systematic/organizational meaning.