'balsamina' originates from Neo-Latin/botanical Latin, ultimately from Latin 'balsamum' (from Greek 'balsamon'), where the root 'balsam-' meant 'balsam' (an aromatic resin).

'balsamina' developed as a Neo-Latin/feminine form used in botanical naming (e.g., Impatiens balsamina) from Latin 'balsamum', which in turn came from Greek 'balsamon'. Over time it became fixed as a species epithet in Linnaean taxonomy.

Initially it referred to 'balsam' (the resin or aromatic substance); it later came to be used specifically as a botanical name for the plant associated with or resembling balsam, and now denotes the species Impatiens balsamina.