'baptornis' originates from New Latin (from Greek), specifically the elements 'bapto' (Greek 'βαπτω') meaning 'to dip' and 'ornis' (Greek 'ὄρνις') meaning 'bird'.

'baptornis' was coined in modern scientific (Neo-Latin) usage by combining the Greek roots 'bapto' + 'ornis' into the genus name 'Baptornis'.

Initially it meant 'dipping bird' or 'diving bird' based on its Greek roots, and over time it has remained a name referring to that diving bird genus.