'self-respect' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'respect', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'respect' means regard or esteem.

'self-respect' evolved from the Middle English word 'respect', which was derived from the Latin 'respectus', meaning 'regard' or 'consideration'.

Initially, it meant 'regard for oneself', and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a sense of one's own dignity or worth'.