'babylonic' originates from the proper name 'Babylon' with the English adjective suffix '-ic'; 'Babylon' itself comes, via Greek and Latin, ultimately from Akkadian 'Bāb-ilu' where 'bāb' meant 'gate' and 'ilu' (or 'il') meant 'god'.

'babylonic' arose in English by attaching the adjective-forming suffix '-ic' to the place-name 'Babylon' (Greek 'Babylōn', Latin 'Babylon'); the place-name traces back to Akkadian 'Bāb-ilu' and passed through classical languages into English.

Initially it meant 'of or relating to the city or civilization of Babylon'; over time it also acquired a figurative sense meaning 'extravagantly luxurious, decadent, or morally corrupt.'