'oocyte' originates from New Latin/Modern scientific coinage, ultimately from Greek: specifically the Greek words 'ōion' or 'oon' meaning 'egg' and 'kytos' meaning 'cell'.

'oocyte' was formed from Greek roots ('ōion' + 'kytos') and appeared in New Latin/Scientific usage as forms like 'oocytus' or 'oöcyte', and eventually became the modern English word 'oocyte'.

Initially it referred to an 'egg cell' (from the Greek roots) and that core meaning—an egg or female germ cell—has been retained in modern usage.