'barleduc' originates from French, specifically the place-name 'Bar-le-Duc', where 'Bar' is the local place name and 'le Duc' meant 'the duke' referring to the Dukes of Bar.

'Bar-le-Duc' changed from the earlier place-name 'Bar' (attested in medieval forms) with 'le Duc' later appended to indicate its association with the Dukes of Bar, and eventually became the modern name 'Bar-le-Duc'.

Initially it referred simply to the place 'Bar'; over time it evolved to mean 'Bar of the duke' and now denotes the modern town and the specialty product associated with it.