'4-methoxybenzaldehyde' originates from modern chemical nomenclature (New Latin/Modern English), combining the parts 'methoxy' and 'benzaldehyde', where 'methoxy' ultimately derives from 'methyl' (from Greek 'methy' meaning 'wine') plus the combining form 'oxy' (from Greek 'oxys' meaning 'sharp' or associated with oxygen), and 'benzaldehyde' combines 'benz' (from 'benzoin', via Medieval Latin 'benzoe' ultimately from Arabic sources) and 'aldehyde' (from German 'Aldehyd', coined in the 19th century for oxidized alcohol derivatives).

'methoxy' developed in 19th-century chemical usage from the name 'methyl' plus the combining element form 'oxy' to denote an –OCH3 substituent; 'benzaldehyde' evolved from names for the resin 'benzoin' (Medieval Latin 'benzoe') and the later chemical suffix 'aldehyde' to denote the benzene-derived aldehyde now called 'benzaldehyde'.

Initially the component names referred more broadly to resinous substances ('benzoin') or to methyl/oxygen-related groups; over time they were systematized into modern chemical combining forms and now specifically denote the para-methoxy-substituted benzene aldehyde '4-methoxybenzaldehyde'.