'ballyhack' originates from Irish, specifically from elements including 'baile' and a personal or family name commonly rendered as 'Hac' or 'Hack', where 'baile' meant 'town' or 'homestead'.

'ballyhack' was anglicized from the Irish place-name form (rendered in records as forms like 'Baile Hac' or similar) and eventually became the modern English place name 'Ballyhack'.

Initially, the components indicated 'the town/homestead of Hac (Hack)', and over time it has remained as the fixed place name 'Ballyhack' with no major change in referential meaning.