'3-anisidine' originates from modern chemical nomenclature (IUPAC/organic naming). The element 'anisidine' derives from New Latin/chemical usage based on 'anise' (Latin 'anisum', from Greek 'άνισον' / 'ánison') referring historically to aroma-related compounds, and the prefix '3-' denotes substitution at the 3-position (meta).

'anisidine' emerged in 19th-century chemical literature as a named derivative of anisole/anisol and aniline (terms such as 'anisidinum' or 'anisylamine' appeared historically). Over time the systematic naming conventions led to the modern form 'anisidine' and positional locants like '3-' gave '3-anisidine'.

Initially, the stem referred loosely to compounds associated with 'anise' or anisole-like substances; over time it narrowed to mean the specific aniline derivative now called 'anisidine' and, with locants, to the specific isomer '3-anisidine'.