'cryotube' originates from two elements: 'cryo-' from Greek, specifically the word 'kryos', where 'kryos' meant 'icy cold', and 'tube' from Latin, specifically the word 'tubus', where 'tubus' meant 'tube' or 'pipe'.

'cryo-' was adopted into English scientific vocabulary in the 19th century as a combining form (from Greek 'kryos'), and later combined with the English word 'tube' (from Latin 'tubus') in 20th-century laboratory nomenclature to form the compound 'cryotube'.

Initially the elements signified simply 'cold' + 'tube', but over time the compound 'cryotube' came to refer specifically to tubes used for cryogenic storage of biological samples.