'positron' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'positive' + the particle-forming suffix '-on', where 'positive' meant 'having a positive (electrical) charge' and '-on' is a suffix used in names of subatomic particles (from Greek/modern scientific usage).

'positron' arose in the early 20th century as a concise form of the phrase 'positive electron' after the particle's theoretical prediction and experimental discovery (predicted by Dirac, discovered by C. D. Anderson in 1932); it was modeled on existing particle names such as 'electron' (from Greek 'ēlektron').

Initially it was described as a 'positive electron' (i.e., an electron with positive charge); over time the term came to be used specifically for the electron's antiparticle, with the modern technical meaning 'antiparticle of the electron'.