'santalum' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'santalum', which was borrowed from Greek 'santalon', referring to sandalwood.

'santalum' changed from the Greek word 'santalon' to the Latin 'santalum', and eventually became the modern English word 'santalum' as a scientific genus name.

Initially, it meant 'sandalwood', but over time it became the scientific name for the genus including sandalwood trees.