'megasporophyll' originates from New Latin and Greek, specifically the Greek elements 'megas' meaning 'large', 'spora' meaning 'seed' or 'spore', and 'phyllon' meaning 'leaf'.

'megasporophyll' was formed in New Latin botanical usage by combining the Greek roots 'mega-', 'sporo-' and '-phyll' and was adopted into English botanical terminology in the 19th century.

Initially it meant 'a leaf bearing large spores', and over time it has remained a technical botanical term for a leaf-like organ bearing megaspores.