'vibraharp' originates from English, specifically formed as a blend of the element 'vibra-' (ultimately from Latin 'vibrare') and the word 'harp', where 'vibrare' meant 'to vibrate' and 'harp' referred to the stringed instrument.

'vibraharp' developed as an alternative name in English for the instrument more commonly called the 'vibraphone' (a name coined in the early 20th century); the form 'vibraharp' appears in English-language trade catalogs and jazz usage as a variant of the newer coinage 'vibraphone'.

Initially, the name evoked a 'harp-like' instrument that produced a vibrating sound, but over time it has come to be used interchangeably with 'vibraphone' to mean the modern metal-bar percussion instrument with vibrato effect.