tˈɜːɹɪɡˌɑːplɪtʃθiz ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə ɡɹˈiːk pˈaɪtˈaʊˈɛpsɪlənɹˈoʊˈʊpsɪlənɡˈæmə tˈɜːɹɪɡ, mˈiːnɪŋ "wˈɪŋ", hˈɑːplɑːn wˈɛpən ænd lˌɛɾɚwˈʌnˈɛfθɹˈiːzˈiəɹoʊtʃˈaɪθˈiːɾəˈʊpsɪlənsˈɪɡmə ˈɪkθiz mˈiːnɪŋ "fˈɪʃ".
Pterygoplichthys is derived from the Greek πτέρυγ- (pteryg-), meaning "wing", (hoplon) - weapon and ἰχθύς (ichthys) meaning "fish".