ðə sˌʌbfɐmˈɪlɪəl nˈeɪm "ɹˈɪvjʊlˌɪniː" wʌz ɔːlɹˌɛdi ɪstˈæblɪʃt fɔːɹ nˈɑːktuːˌɪd mˈɑːθs baɪ ˈɔːɡʌstəs ɹˈædklɪf ɡɹˈoʊt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv.
The subfamilial name "Rivulinae" was already established for noctuid moths by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1895.