'astroscopus' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Astroscopus', where 'astro-' meant 'star' (from Greek astron) and '-scopus' comes from Greek 'skopos' meaning 'watcher' or 'observer'.

'astroscopus' derives from Greek ἀστρόσκοπος (astroskopos) or a combination of Greek elements 'astron' + 'skopos' and was Latinized in scientific nomenclature as 'Astroscopus', becoming the modern genus name used in zoology.

Initially it literally meant 'star-watcher' or 'one who observes stars'; over time, in scientific naming it came to denote this particular genus of fishes (likely referring to their upward-facing eyes, as if 'looking at the stars').