'babka' originates from Polish (also used in Yiddish), specifically the Polish word 'babka', where 'baba' meant 'woman' or 'grandmother' and the diminutive '-ka' meant 'little'.

'babka' came into English from Polish/Yiddish usage referring to a type of cake; the Polish word 'babka' (diminutive of 'baba') was applied to the cake and was borrowed into English as 'babka' and its plural 'babkas'.

Initially, the root referred to 'woman' or 'grandmother' ('little woman/grandmother'), but over time the word came to be used for a specific ringed/loaf-style cake; in modern English it primarily denotes the baked sweet 'babka'.