'ankh' originates from Ancient Egyptian, specifically the word 'ꜥnḫ' (transliterated 'ˁnḫ'), where 'ˁnḫ' meant 'life' or 'to live'.

'ankh' changed from the Coptic word 'anx' (ⲁⲛϧ) and eventually became the modern English word 'ankh' through Egyptological transcription and borrowings into European scholarly vocabulary.

Initially, it meant 'life', and over time it evolved into its current meaning of the Egyptian symbolic 'cross' representing life, eternal life, and related religious concepts.