'azoxynaphthalene' originates from modern chemical nomenclature, combining the element 'azoxy' (from the prefix 'azo-' + 'oxy') and 'naphthalene' (from Greek 'naphtha' meaning a petroleum or mineral oil substance), where 'azoxy' indicates an oxygenated form of an azo linkage and 'naphthalene' denotes the two-ring aromatic hydrocarbon.

'naphthalene' derived from Greek 'naphtha' via Latin and French forms and entered chemical English in the 19th century; 'azo-' and related terms ('azoxy') were coined in the 19th century from French chemical terminology (related to 'azote' for nitrogen) and classical roots; the combined systematic name 'azoxynaphthalene' is a modern formation used in 20th/21st century chemical literature to describe azoxy-substituted naphthalenes.

Initially, the components described an 'azo group' and 'naphthalene' separately; over time the combined term has come to be used specifically for naphthalene derivatives bearing an azoxy linkage, serving as a descriptive systematic name rather than a common-word meaning.