'benzo-pyridine' originates from combining the chemical combining form 'benzo-' (from 'benzene') and 'pyridine', where 'benzo-' referred to benzene-related structures and 'pyridine' ultimately derives from Greek 'pyr-' meaning 'fire' (reflecting early isolation from tar/coal derivatives).

'benzo-' developed as a productive prefix in organic nomenclature from the name 'benzene' (itself from 'benzoin' and related historical sources), and 'pyridine' was coined in the 19th century for the nitrogen-containing heterocycle; chemists then combined these elements in names such as 'benzopyridine' and hyphenated forms like 'benzo-pyridine' to denote fused systems.

Initially the components emphasized the presence of a benzene-like fragment and a pyridine-like fragment; over time the compound name came to specifically denote fused bicyclic heterocycles with defined ring-fusion positions (yielding distinct isomers).