The bay's name is derived from a "barbarous mispronunciation" of its original name, Prideaux Bay, which referred to British General John Prideaux.
ðə bˈeɪz nˈeɪm ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌm ˈeɪ "bˈɑːɹbɚɹəs mɪspɹənˌʌnsɪˈeɪʃən" ʌv ɪts ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl nˈeɪm, pɹˈaɪdɔːks bˈeɪ, wˌɪtʃ ɹᵻfˈɜːd tə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl dʒˈɑːn pɹˈaɪdɔːks.