'astrophil' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'astron' and 'philos', where 'astron' meant 'star' and 'philos' meant 'loving' or 'fond of'.

'astrophil' was formed from Greek roots and appears as a coined poetic name/term in Renaissance and Early Modern English (e.g., the Elizabethan period), most notably used as the name of the lover in Philip Sidney's 'Astrophil and Stella', and it passed into modern English as a rare literary word 'astrophil'.

Initially it functioned as a coined poetic name meaning 'lover of the stars' and was used as a persona in literature; it has remained a rare, chiefly literary term retaining the sense 'lover of the stars'.