'pike-perch' originates from Modern English as a compound of the words 'pike' and 'perch', where 'pike' (ultimately from Old English forms related to 'picga'/'pica') referred to the long, pointed fish and 'perch' (from Old English 'perca', from Latin 'perca') referred to the perch fish.

'pike' changed from Old English forms such as 'picga'/'pica' and 'perch' from Old English 'perca' (from Latin 'perca'); speakers in Modern English formed the compound 'pike-perch' to name a fish that resembles aspects of both pike and perch. The same fish is also called 'zander' in other European languages.

Initially the component words referred to two separate types of fish; over time the compound came to denote a specific species (notably Sander lucioperca) or similar fishes that show characteristics of both pike and perch.