'damselfly' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound 'damsel' + 'fly', where 'damsel' meant 'young woman' and 'fly' meant 'flying insect'.

'damsel' comes from Old French 'damoisele' (also 'demoiselle'), ultimately from Late Latin 'dominicella' (a diminutive of 'domina' meaning 'lady'); 'fly' derives from Old English 'flēoge' (from Proto-Germanic roots). The compound 'damselfly' developed in Early Modern English as a name likening the insect's delicate appearance to a 'damsel'.

Initially the element 'damsel' emphasized a delicate or dainty quality (likening the insect to a young woman); over time the compound came to be the established common and scientific name for the slender Odonata of the suborder Zygoptera.