'balearic' originates from Greek, specifically from the name 'Βαλεαρεῖς' (Latinized as 'Baleares'), where the root 'ballein' meant 'to throw' (a reference to the islands' ancient reputation for skilled slingers).

'balearic' passed into Latin as 'Baleares' for the islands and Medieval Latin as 'Balearicus', and eventually entered English as the adjective/noun 'balearic'.

Initially associated with the people famed as slingers ('those who throw'), the term came to denote the islands themselves and things or people from them; later it was also applied to a relaxed dance-music style associated with Ibiza.