'hydrogen-depleted' is a compound formed from the noun 'hydrogen' and the past-participle adjective 'depleted'. 'Hydrogen' originates from Greek via New Latin and French: Greek 'hydro-' (water) + 'genes' (born/producing) → New Latin 'hydrogenium' → French 'hydrogène' → English 'hydrogen'. 'Depleted' comes from Latin 'deplēre' (to empty) via the past participle 'depletus' and later the verb 'deplete' in English.

'hydrogen' entered English in the 18th century from French 'hydrogène' and New Latin 'hydrogenium', named for its property of forming water; 'deplete' derives from Latin 'deplēre'/'depletus' (to empty) and entered English via Late Latin/Old French influences, with 'depleted' as the past-participial adjective form.

Originally, 'hydrogen' literally meant 'water-forming' (reflecting its chemical discovery) and 'deplete' meant 'to empty'; combined into 'hydrogen-depleted', the compound now specifically denotes a material or sample that has been reduced in hydrogen content.