'arthrodiran' originates from New Latin, specifically the taxonomic name 'Arthrodira', where the Greek prefix 'arthro-' meant 'joint' and the Greek element 'deirē' (or 'dirē') meant 'neck'.

'Arthrodira' derives from Ancient Greek elements (arthron 'joint' + deirē 'neck'); the New Latin taxonomic name 'Arthrodira' entered scientific usage in the 19th century, and the English adjectival/noun form 'arthrodiran' was formed by adding the suffix '-an'.

Initially the Greek-based name described the 'jointed neck' morphology; over time the term (via the taxonomic name) came to denote the group itself and any member or characteristic of that group ('a member of Arthrodira' / 'relating to Arthrodira').