'rebaptise' originates from Modern English formation combining the prefix 're-' (from Latin 're-' meaning 'again') with 'baptise', ultimately from Late Latin 'baptizare' and Greek 'baptizein'.

'rebaptise' developed in English via Middle English and from borrowed Late Latin/Old French medications of 'baptizare' (from Greek 'baptizein'); the agent noun 'rebaptiser' was formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the verb.

Initially the root 'baptizein' meant 'to dip' or 'to immerse'; over time the compound with the prefix 're-' came to mean 'to baptize again' and the agent noun 'rebaptiser' denotes 'one who performs a second baptism'.