'averrhoa' originates from New Latin, specifically the name 'Averrhoa', which was formed from the Latinized name 'Averroes' (from the Arabic name of the philosopher Ibn Rushd).

'averrhoa' was coined in New Latin (18th century botanical Latin) from the Latinized form 'Averroes' (itself from Arabic), and was adopted as the botanical genus name 'Averrhoa'.

Initially it referred to the proper name of the philosopher (Averroes); over time the form was repurposed as the name of a plant genus and came to denote that group of tropical trees.