'arjun' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'Arjuna', where the root 'arjuna' meant 'bright, shining, white'.

'arjun' entered English via South Asian languages (e.g., Hindi, Marathi) and colonial-era borrowings; the Sanskrit 'Arjuna' passed through Prakrit and regional pronunciations before appearing in modern English usage.

Initially it meant 'bright, shining, white'; over time it became primarily a personal name and a name for the epic hero and the tree, while retaining the original descriptive sense in some symbolic or poetic uses.