 The genus name is often cited as "Acoelorraphe", a spelling error to be corrected under the provisions of the ICBN.The genus name is a combination of three Greek words meaning "a-" 'without', ' 'hollow', and ' 'needle', an allusion to the form of the fruit.The species is named after the American botanist Charles Wright

The Paurotis palm was formerly plentiful in the Florida Everglades, but many plants were taken for the nursery trade.