'PABA' originates from modern chemical nomenclature as an abbreviation of 'para-aminobenzoic acid', where 'para-' meant 'at the para position', 'amino' meant 'containing an amino group', and 'benzoic' referred to 'benzoic acid'.

'PABA' developed in the 20th century as a convenient abbreviation for the compound named in systematic organic nomenclature. The full name 'para-aminobenzoic acid' derives from older chemical naming (19th century) describing an 'aminobenzoic acid' with the amino group at the para (4-) position, later standardized as '4-aminobenzoic acid'.

Initially, the term referred strictly to the chemical identity and structure ('para-aminobenzoic acid'), but over time it also came to be associated with its applications (for example, as a sunscreen ingredient) and with biochemical contexts (a folate biosynthesis intermediate).