[1] The village arose on the territory of Metsiku Manor, part of Haljala Parish (Kirchspiel Haljall).

The village was originally called Koduvere (German: Koddofer), and it was attested in written sources as Kottewæræ in 1241 and Koddeuer in 1524.

The philologist Lauri Kettunen connected this name to the word koda 'house, building', whereas Paul Johansen [et] suggested that it is derived from a personal name (Finnish Kotia, Estonian Kotti).

Metsiku was attested in written sources in the personal name Hans Lode von Metzkus in 1504 and as Metzkuß in 1524.

According to Enn Tarvel, the name Metsiku comes from the adjective metsik 'wild', referring to the uncultivated land where the manor was established.