"Pengornis" is a scientific genus name given to an extinct bird. As such, it does not have a traditional etymology similar to everyday words. The term "Pengornis" was coined by a team of scientists led by Dr. Min Wang from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, China, who discovered the fossil species. The name is derived from a combination of the Chinese word "peng" (朋) and the Latin word "ornis" (meaning "bird").
The Chinese character "朋" (péng) means friend or companion, while the Latin term "ornis" means bird. This combination was used to express the idea of a bird-friend, possibly symbolizing the scientific collaboration between Chinese and international researchers in the field of paleontology.