Like its neighbour Terre-de-Haut, it derives its name from maritime speak which called the islands exposed to the wind hightland and those protected from the wind, lowlands.
Do mesmo xeito que a súa veciña Terre-de-Bas, o seu nome ven do vocabulario marítimo, que chamou as illas expostas ao vento terras altas e as protexidas do vento, terras baixas.