'vibraphone' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'vibrate' (from Latin 'vibrare') and Greek 'phone' (φωνή), where 'vibrare' meant 'to shake' and 'phone' meant 'voice' or 'sound'.

'vibraphone' emerged in the early 20th century (1920s) as the name for the new metal-bar instrument; early trade names such as 'vibraharp' were also used, and the term evolved into the standard modern English 'vibraphone'.

Initially it referred to instruments marketed for their vibrato-like effect or to trade names for similar instruments, but over time it came to denote the specific metal-bar percussion instrument with motor-driven resonators now known as the 'vibraphone'.