'bardesanism' originates from Syriac, specifically the name 'Bar Daisan', where 'bar' meant 'son of' and 'Daisan' was a proper name (the name of a river); the English term is formed from that personal name to denote the doctrines associated with him.

'bardesanism' passed from Syriac 'Bar Daisan' into Greek as 'Bardēsánēs', then into Latin as 'Bardesanus', and eventually into modern English as 'bardesanism' to refer to his teachings or the movement based on them.

Initially, the root referred to the person 'Bar Daisan' (Bardaisan) and his immediate circle; over time the term evolved to denote the body of doctrines and the sect associated with him.