'bambino' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'bambino', where the root 'bamb-' is imitative of baby talk and meant 'child' or 'little child'.

'bambino' comes from Italian 'bambino', which in turn derives from Late Latin 'bambinus' (a derivative formed on an imitative root); English borrowed 'bambino' from Italian in the 19th century, retaining the original form.

Initially it meant 'little child' in Italian; in English it retained that core meaning and additionally came to be used affectionately or humorously and as a nickname (for example, 'The Bambino' for Babe Ruth).