'babka' originates from Polish and Ukrainian, specifically the word 'babka', where 'baba' meant 'woman' or 'grandmother'.

'babka' passed through Slavic languages (Polish/ Ukrainian) and Yiddish into English, coming to denote the traditional cake as well as retaining the original sense in Slavic languages.

Initially it referred to a 'woman' or 'grandmother' (from 'baba'); over time the word was applied to a rounded or flounced cake associated with such women or celebrations and in English primarily means the sweet yeast cake.