ðə dʒənˈɛɹɪk nˈeɪm ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə ɡɹˈiːk wˈɜːdz fˈɪlən fˈaɪˈʊpsɪlənlˈæmdəlˈæmdəˈoʊmɪkɹənnjˈuː, wˌɪtʃ mˈiːnz "lˈiːf", ænd fˈaɪˈælfəɡˈæməˈoʊmɪkɹənsˈɪɡmə, wˌɪtʃ mˈiːnz "ˈiːɾɚ", wɪð ɐ plˈʊɹɹəl ˈɛndɪŋ.
The generic name is derived from the Greek words phyllon (φυλλον), which means "leaf", and  (φαγος), which means "eater", with a plural ending.