'atlaslike' originates from English as a compound of 'atlas' and the suffix '-like'; 'atlas' ultimately comes from Greek 'Ἄτλας' (Atlas), the name of the mythological Titan, and the suffix '-like' derives from Old English 'līc' meaning 'body' or 'similar'.

'atlas' passed from Greek 'Ἄτλας' into Latin as 'Atlas' and later was applied (from the 16th century) to a book of maps (an 'atlas') after Gerardus Mercator's usage; the productive English suffix '-like' developed from Old English 'līc' through Middle English into modern '-like', allowing formation of compounds such as 'atlaslike'.

Initially, 'Atlas' referred to the mythic Titan and later to a book of maps; combined with '-like', the compound could originally indicate 'like the Titan' or 'like an atlas (map-book)'; over time 'atlaslike' has been used to mean either 'bearing a great burden' or 'resembling an atlas (map-like)'.