"Latin America"

[Dusky]

What is the reason behind hispanic elements and influences throughout the Americas being referred to as Latin American when Latin originates in Italy?

[kempie]

The use of 'Latin' here is in the sense - relating to people or countries speaking Romance languages.

The Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese) developed from Latin and of course Spain and Portugal colonised South America, takin their latin languages with them.