'Aramean' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'Αραμαῖος (Aramaîos)', derived from the toponym 'Aram' (the region of Aram), where the element 'Aram' referred to the geographic name of that region.

'Aramaîos' passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin as 'Arameus/Aramaeus' and entered English via scholarly and biblical usage, eventually becoming the modern English 'Aramean' (plural 'Arameans').

Initially it meant 'a person from Aram' or 'belonging to Aram'; over time the term continued to denote the ethnic group and also came to be used adjectivally for their language and culture (Aramaic/Aramean).