'autofecundation' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'autofecundatio', where 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos') meant 'self' and 'fecundatio' (from Latin 'fecundare' / 'fecundus') meant 'fertilization' or 'fruitful'.

'autofecundation' was formed in Neo-Latin by combining Greek 'autos' and Latin 'fecundatio' and was adopted into English usage as a scientific term in the 19th century without major spelling changes.

Initially, it meant 'self-fertilization' in scientific contexts, and over time it has retained that biological meaning in modern usage.