'Bangladesh' originates from Bengali, specifically the words 'Bangla' and 'desh', where 'Bangla' meant 'Bengal' (the region/people) and 'desh' meant 'country' or 'land'.

'Bangla' ultimately traces back to the Sanskrit name 'Vanga' (an ancient region of Bengal). Over time the regional form 'Bangla' developed in the local language, and the compound 'Bangla-desh' (land of Bengal) came into modern use, eventually becoming the English name 'Bangladesh' after the 20th century, especially solidified by the country's independence in 1971.

Initially it meant 'land of the Bengal (people/region)', and it evolved into the modern national name referring to the sovereign state 'Bangladesh'.