The specific epithet originates in Greek. The word "argyros" means "silver", and "marginatus" means "bordered"; this is in reference to the silver lining around the black lateral stripe. The genus name, Astyanax, is an allusion to the Iliad, in which a Trojan warrior named Astyanax appeared. The reason for this allusion was not made clear in the nominal text, but it may originate in the scales of type species Astyanax argentatus, which are large and silver, like armor or a shield.
