'auricula' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'auricula', a diminutive of 'auris' where 'aur-' meant 'ear' and the diminutive '-cula' meant 'small'.

'auricula' passed from Classical Latin into Medieval and New Latin and influenced English anatomical and botanical vocabulary; it is related to the English 'auricle' (via Medieval/Scientific Latin usage) and used directly as the botanical name 'auricula'.

Initially it meant 'little ear' as a diminutive of 'ear', but over time it came to be used for various 'ear-shaped' structures (such as parts of the heart) and as the name for a group of plants (Primula auricula).