One theory is that the name comes from the Spanish word "salsa", which means "sauce". This theory is based on the fact that salsa dance is a mixture of different Latin American dance styles, just like a sauce is a mixture of different ingredients.
Another theory is that the name comes from the Spanish word "salir", which means "to go out". This theory is based on the fact that salsa dance is often danced in social settings, such as clubs and parties.
Finally, some people believe that the name salsa dance comes from the Cuban son musician Ignacio Piñeiro. In 1933, Piñeiro recorded a song called "Échale Salsita", which is considered to be one of the first salsa songs. The lyrics of the song include the line "Échale salsita, pa' que se baile el son", which means "Add some sauce, so that the son can be danced". Some people believe that the name salsa dance comes from this song.
Ultimately, the true origin of the name salsa dance is unknown. However, the various theories all provide interesting insights into the history of this popular dance style.