'aminodiphenylamine' originates from English chemical nomenclature, combining 'amino-' (from Latin 'ammonium', meaning 'ammonia'), 'di-' (Greek, meaning 'two'), 'phenyl' (from 'pheno-', relating to benzene rings), and 'amine' (from 'ammonia', referring to nitrogen-containing compounds).

'aminodiphenylamine' was formed in modern chemistry by combining the names of its functional groups to describe its molecular structure.

Initially, it referred specifically to a compound with an amino group attached to diphenylamine, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern chemistry.