'balladist' originates from English, specifically the word 'ballad' + suffix '-ist', where 'ballad' meant 'a narrative song' and '-ist' meant 'one who practices or is concerned with'.

'ballad' came into English from Old French/Anglo-Norman 'ballade' (from Provençal 'ballada', related to Latin 'ballare' meaning 'to dance'); in Middle English it became 'ballad', and the modern English noun 'balladist' developed by adding the agentive suffix '-ist' to 'ballad'.

Initially, 'ballad' referred to a dance-song or a song associated with dancing; over time it evolved into 'a narrative song, often of popular origin,' and 'balladist' came to mean a writer or singer of such narrative songs.