In 1974, Thomas Henry Flewett suggested the name rotavirus after observing that, when viewed through an electron microscope, a rotavirus particle looks like a wheel (rota in Latin); the name was officially recognised by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses four years later.
En 1974, Thomas Henry Flewett propuxo para eles o nome rotavirus ao observar que, cando se vían por microcopio electrónico, as partículas de rotavirus parecían rodas (rota en latín); o nome foi recoñecido oificialmente polo Comité Internacional de Taxonomía de Virus (ICTV) catro anos despois.