'arsine' originates from Modern Latin 'arsenicum' and ultimately from Greek 'arsenikon', where the Greek root 'arsen-' (from 'arsenikos') carried senses of 'male' or 'potent' and was used in names for arsenic-containing substances; the English chemical name was formed by adding the suffix '-ine' (used for hydrides and related compounds).

'arsine' was coined in the 19th century by combining the element name 'arsenic' (which evolved from Greek 'arsenikon' → Latin 'arsenicum' → Middle English 'arsenik' → modern English 'arsenic') with the suffix '-ine', producing the specific name for the hydride AsH3.

Initially related to names for arsenic or arsenic-containing substances, the term evolved to denote specifically the hydride compound AsH3 and its gaseous form.