'babiroussa' originates from Indonesian and Malay, specifically the compound 'babi rusa', where 'babi' meant 'pig' and 'rusa' meant 'deer'.

'babiroussa' entered European use via Malay (and through Dutch contact), appearing as forms like 'babirusa' and later being recorded in English as 'babiroussa' (and as the genus name Babyrousa).

Initially it was a compound descriptive name meaning 'pig-deer' (a pig that looks somewhat like a deer); over time it became the established common name for the specific suid species (and the genus Babyrousa).