For years the origin of the word "Calypso has been a debate of much interest and controversy, as those who venture to broach the topic have varying theories as to the genesis of the art form's name.

One bias proposes that the word Calypso came from the Carib word, "carieto," which means, a joyous song, and which itself evolved into "cariso." Another view holds that the word has a distinctive French origin, being created in the local French patois as "carrousseaux" from the ancient French words "carrouse that means a drinking festivity, and, "callisseaux," a word often written as "Kaiso."

The term could also have come from the Spanish word "caliso," a term used for special songs in St Lucia. "Careso" too, the word for a topical song in the Virgin Islands, is believed to be a possible origin for the word Calypso, as is the West African Hausa term "Kaiso" a perversion of the word "Kaito," an expression of great appreciation and cheering. This last derivation is the one that has found the most acceptance among observers and is still used interchangeably with its derivation Calypso as appreciation for an excellent composition or delivery of a calypso.