Rocker and Rapper Baby Names

Not only did rocker John Mellencamp name his son Speck, but he appended the middle name Wildhorse to it.

Epik is a new word name used by Princess Love and Ray J for their baby boy. Fifteen baby boys were named Epic, the usual spelling of the word, last year, so maybe Epik is to Epic as Erik is to Eric. While Epic in the classic sense refers to a long narrative poem, today it's more likely a slang word used in place of grand or amazing.

This simple but alluring name — some might associate it with the Kama Sutra — was chosen by heavy metal rocker Sammy Hagar for his daughter.

Chosen by one musician, Todd Rundgren, for his son, but unlikely to be emulated by others.

Bamboo is a plant name that you might want to save for the zoo's name-the-panda contest. It was used for a starbaby in 2000, though, the rapper Big Boi.

Rapper M.I.A. announced this as her newborn son's name, which may or may not be a joke.

Creative spelling of Cadence notably used by T-Pain for his son in 2009.

We had Egypt listed as a girls-only place-name until singer Alicia Keys and rap producer husband Swizz Beatz used it for their son...and why not? Egypt certainly works as well for a boy as for a girl, similar in sound as it is to Elijah.

Prince rose to its highest ranking in a century in 2015, and the tragic death of its most famous bearer in April 2016 propelled it even higher. The Purple Rain legend isn't its only tie to pop royalty: Michael Jackson chose it for not one but two of his sons. Royal names such as King and Prince, once thought of as canine, have begun to be used by human non-royals for their sons.

Tenzan is a variation of Tenzin, a name with special significance for Buddhists, being the first name of the Dalai Lama.

Notably used by rapper M.I.A. for her son in 2009.

Alabama is a hot southern place-name, picking up from Georgia and Savannah. This is not a geographical name come lately, though--there have been girls named Alabama dating back well over a century.

Funky, boyish, old-style combo name chosen for their daughter by hip couple Donna D'Ericco and Nikki Sixx.

Arabic name with ties to ancient royalty. Rapper Meek Mill gave this name to his oldest son.

The middle name of rapper Meek Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams. Also the name he gave to his second-born son.

In this era of Royalty, Reign, and Chosen, Heiress isn't as shocking as it once might has been. A direct and declarative choice for those who want their daughter to carry on their legacy, Heiress feels similar in style to Empress and Princess.