'baccharis' originates from New Latin, ultimately from Greek 'bakkaris', a name for a fragrant shrub associated with 'Bacchus'.

'baccharis' came into botanical use from New Latin, based on the Greek word 'bakkaris' (βάκχαρις), which itself related to 'Bacchus' (the Roman/Greek god); the term was adopted into modern botanical Latin to name the genus Baccharis.

Initially, the term referred to a fragrant shrub associated with Bacchus; over time it became the formal botanical name for a genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae.