ðə dʒˈɛnəs wʌz nˈeɪmd ɪn ˈɑːnɚɹ ʌv dʒˈiːn rjˈuːəl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi sˈɛvən, hˈɜːbəlˌɪst ænd fɪzˈɪʃən tə fɹˈænsɪs aɪ ʌv fɹˈæns ænd tɹænslˈeɪɾɚɹ ʌv sˈɛvɹəl wˈɜːks ʌv dɪˈɑːskoːɹˌaɪdz.
The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle (1474–1537), herbalist and physician to Francis I of France and translator of several works of Dioscorides.