'beta-arbutin' originates from the Greek letter 'beta' (used to denote the β stereochemical form) combined with 'arbutin', a chemical name formed in Neo-Latin/modern chemical nomenclature from Latin 'arbutus' (the strawberry tree), where 'arbutus' referred to the plant source.

'arbutin' was named from Latin 'arbutus' (a plant name) through early chemical naming in Neo-Latin and modern languages; the prefix 'beta-' (from Greek 'beta') was later attached in chemical stereochemistry to indicate the β-anomer, yielding the modern compound name 'beta-arbutin'.

Initially the element 'arbutin' referred to the compound isolated from Arbutus-like plants; over time 'beta-arbutin' came to specify specifically the β-anomer (stereoisomer) of arbutin, a usage maintained in modern chemistry and cosmetics.