'asterionella' originates from New Latin used in scientific taxonomy, ultimately from Greek 'asterion' meaning 'little star' combined with the Latin diminutive suffix '-ella'.

'asterionella' was coined in modern scientific (New Latin) nomenclature by combining Greek 'asterion' ('little star') with the Latin diminutive suffix '-ella', becoming the established genus name in phycology and taxonomy.

Initially the elements meant 'little star' (referring to shape), but over time the combined form has been used as the formal genus name for a group of star-forming diatoms.