'live-bearing' originates from Old English elements: 'live' (from Old English 'līf' / the verb 'libban') and 'bearing' (from Old English 'beran'), where 'līf'/'libban' meant 'alive' or 'life' and 'beran' meant 'to carry' or 'to bear (give birth)'.

'live-bearing' developed in Modern English as a compound combining 'live' + present participle 'bearing'. The component 'beran' evolved into Middle English 'beren'/'beren' (to bear) and later Modern English 'bear', producing the participle form 'bearing' used in compounds like 'live-bearing'.

Initially the elements conveyed the sense of 'carrying life' (literally 'bearing life'); over time the compound stabilized to mean specifically 'giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs'.