English scientist Henry Cavendish discovered hydrogen as an element in 1766. Cavendish ran an experiment using zinc and hydrochloric acid. He discovered hydrogen and also found that it produced water when it burned. Where did hydrogen get its name? The name hydrogen comes from the Greek words hydro (meaning water) and genes (meaning creator). It was named by French chemist Antoine Lavoisier because when it burns it creates water. Ions and Isotopes Hydrogen can take a negative charge and be an anion called a hydride. It can also take a positive charge as a cation. Protium is the most common isotope of hydrogen.