'barytone' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'βαρύτονος' (barytonos), where 'βαρύς' (barys) meant 'heavy' and 'τόνος' (tonos) meant 'tone'.

'barytone' passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin as 'barytonus' and influenced Italian 'baritono' and French forms, from which the English forms 'barytone' and the variant 'baritone' developed.

Initially it meant 'having a heavy or deep tone'; over time it came to denote specifically a voice or instrument range between bass and tenor.