'neanderthalensis' originates from the Neander Valley in Germany, where the first fossils were discovered, combined with the Latin suffix '-ensis' meaning 'from' or 'of'.

'Neanderthalensis' was named after the Neander Valley, where the first remains were found in 1856, and it became the scientific name for the species.

Initially, it referred specifically to the fossils found in the Neander Valley, but it now encompasses the entire species known as Neanderthals.