Musical baby names

Every name links to its full page: meaning, origin, and its real popularity curve since 1890.

Aarohi Sanskrit · ascending musical scale; a lyrical modern favorite

Adele Germanic · noble; famously borne by singer Adele

Adèle French · noble

Amadeus Latin · love of God

Anggun Indonesian · graceful, elegant (also singer Anggun)

Antara Bengali · inner self, one who lives in the heart; also the name for the second section of a Hindustani classical music composition

Apollo Greek · god of music and light

Aretha Greek · traditionally 'virtuous'; forever tied to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin

Aria Italian · melody, air

Ariah Italian · modern variant of Aria, from Italian for 'air, melody'

Ariya Italian · modern variant of Aria, Italian for 'melody, air'

Ashanti African · named for the Ashanti people of Ghana; embraced as a proud African heritage name, also familiar via singer Ashanti

Axl Scandinavian · variant of Axel, form of Absalom, 'father of peace'

Bessie Hebrew · God is my oath (pet form of Elizabeth); famously borne by blues empress Bessie Smith

Beyoncé African American · modern coinage honoring her mother's maiden name, Beyincé; famously borne by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Bilal Arabic · moisture, freshness

Billie English · resolute protector (pet form of Wilhelmina and William); famously borne by Billie Holiday and Billie Eilish

Bob Germanic · bright fame (pet form of Robert); famously borne by Bob Dylan and Bob Marley

Bowie Scottish · yellow-haired (Scottish surname, from Gaelic buidhe); chosen honoring David Bowie

Bowie Scottish · surname meaning 'yellow-haired'; popularized by David Bowie

Buddy English · friend, pal (affectionate English nickname); famously borne by Buddy Holly

Cadence Latin · rhythm, flow of sound; from Latin cadentia

Calliope Greek · beautiful voice

Carol French · song of joy

Caydence Latin · modern respelling of Cadence, 'rhythm, flow'

Cecelia Latin · variant of Cecilia, from Roman clan name Caecilius, related to 'caecus' (blind)

Cecilia Latin · from Roman family name Caecilius, traditionally "blind"

Cecília Portuguese · blind one (patron saint of music)

Celia Latin · heavenly (from Latin Caelia); famously borne by salsa queen Celia Cruz

Cher French · dear, beloved

Chuck English · free man (American pet form of Charles); famously borne by Chuck Berry

Delilah Hebrew · delicate, seductive

Dolly Greek · gift of God (pet form of Dorothy); famously borne by Dolly Parton

Ellington English · from an English place name, 'Elli's town'; chosen honoring Duke Ellington

Elton English · from an English place name, 'Ella's town'; famously borne by Elton John

Elvis English · of uncertain origin, possibly from the Irish saint's name Ailbhe; made world-famous by Elvis Presley

Elvis Scandinavian · meaning uncertain, possibly all-wise (Norse Alviss) or Irish Ailbhe

Etta English · short form of Henrietta, 'home ruler'; famously borne by Etta James

Ge Chinese · song (歌)

Harmoni Greek · modern respelling of Harmony, from harmonia, concord

Harmony English · from the word "harmony"

Harper English · harp player

Hendrix Dutch · son of Hendrik, the Dutch Henry ('estate ruler'); chosen honoring Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix Dutch · patronymic surname meaning 'son of Hendrik (Henry)'

Isai Tamil · music (Tamil)

Jagger English · carter, peddler (English surname); chosen honoring Mick Jagger

Jagger English · English occupational surname meaning 'carter, peddler'

Jaheim English · modern coinage blending 'Jah' (God) and Hakeem; popularized by R&B singer Jaheim

Janis English · form of Janice, from Jane, 'God is gracious'; famously borne by Janis Joplin

Jazzlyn English · modern coinage blending 'jazz' with the popular '-lyn' suffix

Jimi English · supplanter (pet form of James); famously borne by Jimi Hendrix

Johnny Hebrew · God is gracious (pet form of John); famously borne by Johnny Cash

Jolene English · modern coined name, combination of Jo and the popular name suffix -lene

Joni Hebrew · God is gracious (pet form of Joan); famously borne by Joni Mitchell

Jovi Italian · from the surname Bon Jovi, roughly 'good Jove'

Juelz English · modern respelling of Jewels/Julius; popularized by rapper Juelz Santana

Kadence Latin · phonetic respelling of Cadence, from Latin cadentia 'rhythm'

Kaidence Latin · modern respelling of Cadence, 'rhythm, flow'

Kaleo Hawaiian · the voice, the sound

Kanon Japanese · a phonetic name echoing the musical term 'canon,' popularized through Japanese pop culture

Karmen Slavic · Slavic spelling of Carmen, from Latin carmen, 'song'

Kaydence Latin · phonetic variant of Cadence, from Latin cadentia 'rhythm'

Kayleigh English · modern coinage/blend of Kay and Leigh, popularized by a 1985 song

Kehlani Hawaiian · "sea and sky"

Knar Armenian · Armenian word for lyre

Kotone Japanese · sound of the koto harp

Kural Tamil · a short couplet, as in the classical ethical text the Tirukkural; also the traditional Tamil name for the tonic note "sa" in classical music

Layla Arabic · night

Leila Arabic · night (an alternate spelling of Layla, kept distinct by many families for its own crossover history, including the Eric Clapton song)

Lennon Irish · lover, sweetheart (Irish surname Ó Leannáin); chosen by parents honoring John Lennon

Lennon Irish · surname Ó Leannáin, traditionally "lover" or "cloak"

Lorelei German · the legendary Rhine siren whose enchanting song lured sailors to their doom for love

Lyra Greek · "lyre", also the constellation

Lyric English · from the word "lyric"

Madonna Italian · my lady (Italian title of the Virgin Mary); famously borne by Madonna

Mahlet Amharic · psalm, song

Mariah Hebrew · form of Maria, traditionally 'wished-for child, beloved'; famously borne by Mariah Carey

Marley English · pleasant meadow (English surname); chosen honoring Bob Marley

Marley English · place name/surname, "pleasant wood"

Marvin Welsh · sea friend (from Welsh Merfyn); famously borne by Marvin Gaye

Mavis French · songbird, the thrush; a lyrical name long tied to love songs

Mele Hawaiian · song

Melodie Greek · variant of Melody, from Greek meaning 'song'

Melody Greek · "song, melody"

Miles Latin · soldier, merciful

Nat Hebrew · gift of God (short form of Nathaniel); famously borne by Nat King Cole

Nina Spanish · traditionally 'little girl,' also a pet form of Ann; forever tied to singer and activist Nina Simone

Omarion Arabic · elaboration of Omar, traditionally 'flourishing, long-lived,' popularized by singer Omarion

Orpheus Greek · the darkness of night; legendary musician

Otis English · English surname from Ode, 'wealth, fortune'; famously borne by Otis Redding

Patsy Latin · noble (pet form of Patricia); famously borne by Patsy Cline

Piper English · occupational surname, "pipe player"

Prince Latin · royal title used as a given name (Latin princeps, 'first'); famously borne by Prince Rogers Nelson

Ray Germanic · wise protector (short form of Raymond); famously borne by Ray Charles

Sade Yoruba · a shortened form used as a given name; embraced in Black American families since the 1980s via singer Sade Adu

Selena Greek · from Selene, Greek goddess of the moon; famously borne by Tejano star Selena Quintanilla

Sesilia Samoan · Samoan form of Cecilia, patron saint of music

Shania Native-American · popularized by singer Shania Twain, who said it means 'on my way' in Ojibwe, though the etymology is disputed

Shanice English · modern coinage blending the 'Sha-' prefix with a lyrical ending, popularized by 1990s R&B

Shira Hebrew · song

Sinéad Irish · God is gracious (Irish form of Jane; associated with singer Sinéad O'Connor)

Sohini Bengali · beautiful, charming, splendid; also the name of a Hindustani classical raga associated with the late evening

Stevie Greek · crowned (pet form of Steven and Stephanie); famously borne by Stevie Wonder and Stevie Nicks

Stevie Greek · pet form of Stephen/Stephanie, "crown"

Suzu Japanese · bell

Symphony Greek · word name from the musical term, Greek for 'sounding together'

Thalia Greek · to flourish, blooming; muse of comedy

Tina English · short form of Christina, 'follower of Christ'; famously borne by Tina Turner

Turlough Irish · shaped like Thor, instigator (associated with harper Turlough O'Carolan)

Wakana Japanese · harmony, song

Whitney English · white island (English surname); famously borne by Whitney Houston

Willie Germanic · resolute protector (pet form of William); famously borne by Willie Nelson

Yandel Spanish · stage name of Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Yandel, derived from his given name Llandel

Yared Amharic · Saint Yared, founder of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical music

Zamir Hebrew · means 'song' or 'nightingale'

Which of these fits YOUR family? →