1784年，“男高音”，字面意思是“高”，来自意大利语 alto (canto)，源自拉丁语 altus “高”（字面意思是“长高”，来自原始印欧语根 *al- (2) “生长，滋养”）。最初指男性的高音；现在更常用于女性声音的低音范围（更严格来说是 contralto），这一扩展在1848年得到了证实。之所以如此称呼，是因为其音高高于 tenor，在古老音乐中由其演奏旋律。
The alto in a man is totally distinct from the contralto in a woman. The tone is utterly different — the best notes of the one are certainly not the best notes of the other; and although in certain cases a contralto may sing with good effect music written for a male alto (e.g. in some oratorios), yet the converse is scarcely ever true. ["How to Sing," 1890]
作为一种萨克斯ophone，始于1869年。也是中提琴的旧称（1833年），来自意大利语。