'avadavat' originates from Hindi/Urdu, specifically the word 'avadāvat' (or regional forms), referring to a local name for the bird associated with the Avadh (Oudh) region.

'avadavat' entered English in the late 18th to early 19th century from Hindi/Urdu; the local name was adopted (via colonial naturalists' reports) into English as the common name for the species.

Initially it was a local name for the species in South Asia; over time the word has been used in English as the established common name for Amandava amandava with essentially the same meaning.