'Aramaism' originates from English 'Aramaic' with the addition of the suffix '-ism', where 'Aramaic' referred to the Aramaic language (language of the Arameans).

'Aramaic' comes into English via Latin 'Aramaicus' and Greek 'Aramaikos', ultimately tracing back to the Semitic name 'Aram' for the ancient region; the modern English formation 'Aramaism' was produced by attaching '-ism' to denote a feature or practice related to Aramaic.

Initially the root referred specifically to things 'of or relating to Aram (the region)', and over time the derived formation came to mean 'a feature or element originating in the Aramaic language' in modern usage.