'aspidobranchia' originates from New Latin (taxonomic usage), built from Greek 'aspis' meaning 'shield' and Greek 'branchia' meaning 'gills'.

'aspidobranchia' was coined in zoological/New Latin usage in the 19th century from the Greek elements 'aspis' + 'branchia'; it appeared in older malacological classifications and was later superseded or reorganized into other group names such as 'Archaeogastropoda' and modern clades (e.g., Vetigastropoda) as taxonomy advanced.

Initially it denoted a group of gastropods characterized by shield-like gills; over time the taxon proved to be paraphyletic or otherwise inappropriate and the term fell into disuse, its members being reassigned in modern classifications.