'methanamide' originates from modern chemical nomenclature, combining the prefix 'methan-' (from 'methane', indicating a single carbon) and the suffix '-amide' (from 'amide', the chemical group).

'methanamide' corresponds to the systematic IUPAC formation from 'methanoic acid' (common name 'formic acid') plus the amide suffix; historically the compound was more commonly called 'formamide' in older literature, and the systematic name 'methanamide' aligns with modern nomenclature rules.

Initially the compound was most often known by the common name 'formamide'; over time, systematic nomenclature produced the alternative name 'methanamide', but both refer to the same chemical substance.