'asterella' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Asterella', where 'aster' meant 'star' and the diminutive suffix '-ella' meant 'little or small'.

'asterella' was coined in botanical New Latin by combining Greek/Latin root 'aster' (from Greek 'astēr' meaning 'star' via Latin 'aster') with the diminutive suffix '-ella', and it became established as the modern genus name used in botanical nomenclature.

Initially the components literally conveyed the idea 'little star' (referring to shape or appearance); over time the formed word came to be used primarily as a taxonomic genus name for certain liverworts.