'anti-popular' originates from two elements: the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'popular' from Latin 'popularis' (from 'populus') meaning 'people'.

'popular' entered English via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'popularis' (related to 'populus' meaning 'people'); the prefix 'anti-' was borrowed from Greek and used in English to form compounds meaning 'against' + adjective, producing modern compounds like 'anti-popular'.

Initially the components meant 'against' + 'of the people' (literally 'against the people'); over time the compound has come to mean 'opposed to what is popular' or 'contrary to mainstream opinion', focusing on popularity or mainstream taste rather than literal opposition to the people.