'Arnebia' originates from botanical Latin, ultimately adapted from a Semitic source (Arabic or Persian); it has been Latinized for use as a genus name.

'Arnebia' entered scientific usage as a Latinized genus name in modern botanical nomenclature, derived from an earlier vernacular/semantic root in Arabic or Persian and preserved in botanical Latin as 'Arnebia'.

Initially the root word likely referred to a vernacular name or a notion (possibly associated with 'rabbit' in some suggested etymologies), but over time the form 'Arnebia' has come to be used exclusively as the formal genus name for these plants.