'o-aminophenol' originates from modern chemical nomenclature, specifically combining the prefix 'o-' (short for 'ortho'), the element 'amino' and the word 'phenol'. 'ortho' ultimately comes from Greek 'orthos' (ὀρθός), where 'orthos' meant 'straight, correct' and in chemical usage denotes 'adjacent'; 'amino' derives via French 'amine' from ammoniacal/Latin roots related to 'ammonia'; 'phenol' was coined in German as 'Phenol', from 'phenyl' + the suffix '-ol' (for alcohols).

'o-aminophenol' changed from older naming forms such as 'ortho-aminophenol' and the systematic locant form '2-aminophenol' as chemical nomenclature evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries; the component 'phenol' came into chemical use from German and earlier organic-root names and was standardized as the suffix '-ol' for alcohol-like hydroxyl-containing compounds.

Initially the parts of the name emphasized the presence of an amino group on a phenolic ring and the positional relation ('ortho' meaning adjacent); over time it stabilized to refer specifically to the distinct compound '2-aminophenol' (C6H7NO) used in organic chemistry and industry.