'depopularize' originates from English, specifically formed by the prefix 'de-' plus the verb 'popularize'; 'de-' conveyed 'remove' or 'reverse', while 'popularize' ultimately comes from Latin 'popularis' (from 'populus').

'depopularize' developed in modern English by attaching the productive prefix 'de-' to 'popularize' (which came into English via French 'populariser' from Latin 'popularis', itself from 'populus' meaning 'people'), resulting in the modern English verb 'depopularize'.

Initially, 'popular' meant 'of the people' and 'popularize' meant 'to make widely known or liked by the people'; over time the prefixation produced 'depopularize', whose sense is the reversal: 'to make less popular' or 'to remove popularity'.