'lesbian' originates from the name of the Greek island 'Lesbos', where the poet Sappho, known for her poetry about love between women, lived.

'Lesbian' was used in the 16th century to refer to the island of Lesbos, and by the 19th century, it evolved to describe women who love women.

Initially, it referred to anything related to the island of Lesbos, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a woman attracted to other women.