'aortogram' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'aorta' (from Greek 'aortē') and 'gram' (from Greek 'gramma'), where 'aortē' meant 'the aorta (the main artery)' and 'gramma' meant 'a thing written or recorded'.

'aortogram' was formed in modern medical English by combining the Greek-derived element 'aorta' with the suffix '-gram' (from Greek 'gramma') to denote a recorded image; the term became used in the 20th century with the development of radiographic contrast studies (aortography).

Initially it referred to a 'recorded image or tracing of the aorta' and it has retained that specific meaning in medical usage.