Lake Telbin has a multifaceted and complex history that spans several centuries, with the origin of its name remaining a mystery. The lake was first mentioned in documents at the end of the 17th century under the name "Terbin." Some researchers associate its name with the historical Dolobsky Lake, where ancient Rus princes negotiated alliances against the Polovtsy. In Old Norse, "telba" translates to "old river" or "old woman," while in Ukrainian, it can refer to a bulging stomach or entrails. Locals believe the lake was named after the entrails of slaughtered animals discarded by workers from nearby slaughterhouses.

In the past, a small hamlet known as Zatelbin Bereznyak was located near the lake, which gave its name to the residential area of Bereznyaky. Another nearby settlement was Kukhmisterska.

Throughout its history, Lake Telbin has undergone significant changes. For a long time, it remained a large, deep body of water, stretching from Rusanivka to the village of Poznyaky. During spring floods, the lake would merge with the Dnipro River, while the Darnytsia River, the main watercourse on the left bank, flowed into it.

In 1870, construction of the railroad divided the reservoir with a mound of sand, creating two separate lakes: Telbin and Lower Telbin. A century later, the alluvial housing estate of Bereznyaky began to develop around the lake, leading to active construction that filled in the northern part of the water area. This transformed the lake into its modern boomerang shape. Today, approximately 40% of the original area of the upper lake is still visible.