'ataxiaphasia' originates from Greek-derived medical elements: specifically 'ataxia' (from Greek 'a-' meaning 'without' + 'taxis' meaning 'order') and 'aphasia' (from Greek 'a-' meaning 'without' + 'phasis' meaning 'speech').

'ataxiaphasia' developed from the descriptive phrase 'ataxic aphasia' used in 20th-century neurology; the two components were later combined into the single compound term 'ataxiaphasia' in some clinical and academic texts.

Initially used simply to indicate the coexistence or overlap of ataxia-like features and aphasia, the term has come to be used in some contexts to denote a specific pattern of uncoordinated, irregular speech production often linked to cerebellar involvement.