'zygopteran' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Zygoptera', where Greek 'zygon' (ζυγόν) meant 'yoke' and 'pteron' (πτερόν) meant 'wing'.

'zygopteran' changed from New Latin 'Zygoptera' by the addition of the English suffix '-an' in the late 19th century to form the noun/adjective 'zygopteran' and its plural 'zygopterans'.

Initially, it referred to the taxonomic group 'Zygoptera' (damselflies); over time it came to be used for individual members of that suborder as 'zygopteran' (plural 'zygopterans').