The word originates directly from Greek mythology, referring to the 'Tītânes', the elder gods and children of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). The name's ultimate etymology is uncertain but is likely of pre-Greek, possibly Anatolian, origin. In English, the term was adopted in the early 17th century to denote a person of colossal size or strength, directly inspired by the mythological giants. This semantic shift from a specific mythological race to a metaphor for immense power illustrates how classical culture provides enduring archetypes for describing extraordinary scale and force.

The word is a simplex loanword from Greek mythology. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.