'alytes' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀλύτης', where 'ἀ-' meant 'not' and 'λύτης' meant 'loose', referring to the tight grip the male toad has on the eggs.

The Greek word 'ἀλύτης' was directly adopted into scientific Latin as 'alytes', maintaining its original meaning.

Initially, it referred to the tight grip, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.