'feminophilia' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin word 'fēmina' and the Greek word 'philia', where 'fēmina' meant 'woman' and 'philia' meant 'love' or 'affection'.

'feminophilia' was formed in modern coinage by combining Latin 'fēmina' and Greek 'philia' (a common pattern in Neo-Latin and English formations) and entered English as the modern term 'feminophilia'.

Initially it referred simply to 'love or fondness for women'; over time its use has encompassed both sexual attraction and broader admiration or preference for women or feminine qualities.