The genus name Hippolais is from Ancient Greek hupolais, as misspelt by Linnaeus.
It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from hupo,"under", and laas, "stone".
The specific icterina  is Greek for "jaundice-yellow".
Icterus was an old word for jaundice, and also referred to a yellowish-green bird, perhaps the golden oriole, the sight of which was believed to cure the disease.
It is colloquially referred to by birders as icky.

The scientific name was also spelt as Hypolais icterina.
The genus name Hippolais is from Ancient Greek hupolais, as misspelt by Linnaeus. It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from hupo,"under", and laas, "stone". The specific icterina  is Greek for "jaundice-yellow". Icterus was an old word for jaundice, and also referred to a yellowish-green bird, perhaps the golden oriole, the sight of which was believed to cure the disease. It is colloquially referred to by birders as icky.
The scientific name was also spelt as Hypolais icterina.
Icterine warbler