'anti-Marian' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'Marian' (from Latin 'Marianus', relating to 'Maria' = Mary).

'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' and was adopted into Latin and then English as a productive prefix meaning 'against'; 'Marian' derives from Latin 'Marianus' (from 'Maria') meaning 'of or relating to Mary'. The compound 'anti-Marian' appears in English theological and polemical contexts from the 19th and 20th centuries to describe opposition to Marian doctrines.

Initially the components literally meant 'against Mary' (i.e., against or opposed to Mary); over time the compound has been used more specifically to mean 'opposed to Marian doctrines, devotions, or the theological emphasis on Mary' rather than a personal or hostile attitude toward the historical figure of Mary.