'balneographer' originates from Latin and Greek elements: Latin 'balneum' meaning 'bath' combined with Greek-derived combining form '-graph-' from 'graphein' meaning 'to write' (via Neo-Latin/Modern formation).

'balneum' (Latin) and Greek 'balaneion' (βαλανεῖον, 'bath, bathing-place') were combined with the Greek root 'graphein' ('to write') in Neo-Latin/Modern coinages such as 'balneography' ('description of baths'), and English later formed 'balneographer' ('one who writes about balneography').

Initially formed to mean 'one who describes or records baths and mineral springs,' the meaning has remained focused on writers or investigators of baths and their therapeutic uses.