Mongolian paleontologist Rinchen Barsbold named "Anserimimus" in 1988, combining the Latin "anser" meaning 'goose' with the Greek "mimos" meaning 'mimic'. "Anser" is the generic name of several species of geese. Although "Anserimimus" does not specifically resemble a goose, ornithomimosaurs have traditionally been named after different types of birds, such as "Struthiomimus" ('ostrich mimic'), "Gallimimus" ('rooster mimic'), and "Pelecanimimus" ('pelican mimic'). The one named species of "Anserimimus" is called "Anserimimus planinychus". The specific name is derived from the Latin "planus" meaning 'flat', and the Ancient Greek ὄνυξ, "onyx", meaning 'claw', in reference to the peculiar flattened claws which characterize the genus.