ðə dʒˈɛnəs nˈeɪm ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə sˈaʊθ ˈɪndiən nˈeɪm bˈæseɪl wˌɪtʃ hˈɛndɹɪk ɹˈiːd ɹᵻkˈoːɹdᵻd ɪn mˈælɐbˌɑːɹ æz beɪsˈɛlə ɪn hɪz hˈɔːɹɾəs mˌælɐbˈæɹɪkəs.
The genus name is derived from the south Indian name Basale which Hendrik Rheede recorded in Malabar as Basella in his Hortus Malabaricus.