'Balistidae' originates from New Latin, specifically the genus name 'Balistes', which ultimately derives from Greek 'balistēs' meaning 'thrower' (from the verb 'ballein', 'to throw').

'Balistidae' developed from the New Latin genus name 'Balistes' (itself from Greek 'balistēs') and became the modern family name by adding the taxonomic suffix '-idae'.

Initially it referred to the genus name derived from a Greek word meaning 'thrower'; over time it came to denote the taxonomic family of fishes known as triggerfishes.