'atherinidae' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Atherina', which ultimately comes from Greek 'atherinos' (ἀθηρινός), where the root referred to a small silvery fish (i.e., 'silverside').

'atherinidae' changed from the Modern Latin taxonomic formation based on the genus name 'Atherina' and eventually became the modern scientific family name 'atherinidae' used in zoological classification.

Initially, it referred to a specific small silvery fish ('Atherina'), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a taxonomic family encompassing many related silvery fish species ('a family of silvery fishes').