'Assyria' originates from Latin 'Assyria', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'Ἀσσυρία' and the Akkadian name 'Aššur', where 'Aššur' was the name of the city and its national god.

'Aššur' (Akkadian) was adopted into Ancient Greek as 'Ἀσσυρία' and into Latin as 'Assyria', and these forms developed into the modern English name 'Assyria'.

Initially it referred specifically to the city/territory associated with the god Aššur; over time it came to denote the broader kingdom/empire and the historical civilization known as Assyria.