'self-acceptance' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'acceptance', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'acceptance' means the act of consenting to receive or undertake something.

'self-acceptance' evolved from the concept of accepting oneself, which has been a part of psychological discourse since the mid-20th century.

Initially, it meant 'accepting oneself as is', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.