ðə nˈɜːs ʃˈɑːɹk dʒˈɛnəs dʒˌɪŋɡlɪmoʊstˈoʊmə ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌm ɡɹˈiːk lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ mˈiːnɪŋ hˈɪndʒd mˈaʊθ, wˈɛɹæz ðə spˈiːsiːz sɜːɹˈɑːɾəm ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌm lˈætɪn mˈiːnɪŋ hˌævɪŋ kˈɜːld ɹˈɪŋɡlɪts.
The nurse shark genus Ginglymostoma is derived from Greek language meaning hinged mouth, whereas the species cirratum is derived from Latin meaning having curled ringlets.