ðə dʒˈɛnəs nˈeɪm kəmbˈaɪnz ðɪ ˈeɪntʃənt ɡɹˈiːk ɹˈuːpoʊz mˈiːnɪŋ "dˈɜːt" ɔːɹ "fˈɪlθ" wɪð ˈɔːɹniz mˈiːnɪŋ "bˈɜːd".
The genus name combines the Ancient Greek rhupos meaning "dirt" or "filth" with ornis meaning "bird".