'methoxybenzol' is formed from the combining form 'methoxy-' (from 'methanol' + 'oxy', indicating a methoxy group) and 'benzol' (a historical name for benzene used in German and some chemical nomenclature).

'methoxybenzol' is a modern systematic compound name; historically the same substance was commonly called 'anisole' (from French 'anisole', from Latin 'anisum' meaning 'anise'). The element 'benzol' comes from older terms related to 'benzoin' and 'benzene' used in 19th-century chemical literature.

Initially names like 'anisole' emphasized the source or scent (anise oil); over time systematic names such as 'methoxybenzol' or 'methoxybenzene' developed to describe the molecular structure (a methoxy group on a benzene ring).