ðə nˈeɪm poʊnɹˈɑːstɪəs kæn biː tɹænslˈeɪɾᵻd æz "bˈæd", "wˈɜːθləs", ɔːɹ "jˈuːsləs bˈoʊn", wˌɪtʃ dᵻskɹˈaɪbz ðə fɹæɡmˈɛntɚɹi nˈeɪtʃɚɹ ʌvðə hˈɑːlətˌaɪp.
The name Ponerosteus can be translated as "bad", "worthless", or "useless bone", which describes the fragmentary nature of the holotype.