'aspalathus' originates from New Latin (used in botanical Latin), ultimately from Ancient Greek 'asphalathos' (ἀσφάλᾰθος), where the Greek term referred to a kind of thorny or broom-like shrub.

'aspalathus' was adopted into New Latin as a botanical genus name (Linnaean taxonomy) from the Ancient Greek word 'asphalathos'; the Greek term was recorded in classical sources and was Latinized for modern scientific use.

Initially, in Ancient Greek the word meant 'a thorny/broom-like shrub', but over time it has come to denote the specific botanical genus 'Aspalathus' in modern taxonomy (including species such as Aspalathus linearis used for rooibos).