'atropa' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Atropa', where the Greek name 'Atropos' was formed from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'not' and the root 'trepein' meaning 'to turn'.

'atropa' changed from Ancient Greek 'Atropos' and was adopted into New Latin as the genus name 'Atropa', eventually becoming the modern English word 'atropa' used for the plant genus.

Initially, it referred to 'Atropos' (one of the three Fates in Greek myth, who cuts the thread of life); over time it evolved into its current meaning as the name of a genus of poisonous plants.