Musical Baby Names

Once unique to the Zappa family, now you can have your own little prima donna.

Ellington is a swinging musical name, evoking the jazzy and elegant persona of the Duke (born Edward Kennedy Ellington). While that reference may seem to make Ellington a male name, it is also occasionally used for girls.

Piper's rising popularity for girls makes it an unlikely masculine choice.

Word name with an appealing sound but a trivializing meaning.

Ramon is a common Latin male name, but Ramone would clearly be in tribute to the early punk rock group--each of whose members took on the last name Ramone.

Name that makes a dramatic musical statement.

Could be seen as extravagantly ecstatic for a baby name, though feel free to rhapsodize about your little girl, whatever her name.

Undiscovered musical form melodious enough to be a hit on the name charts.

The name of a small yellow bird that hasn't taken off in the way that some of its avian sisters – like Robin, Wren or Lark – have.

Ahuli's pleasant beat makes it a striking option for a son.

If Viola is a credible girl's name, why not the mellow Cello for a boy.

Minuet is delicate, dancey, and lacy, with a Masterpiece Theatre feel. Is Minuet a real name? Not really, though similar-sounding French names such as Minette and Manette are.

Cadenza takes the popular CADENCE and gives it a more operatic flourish.

These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.

A South American dance style whose name derives from Latin tangere "touch". It's also a popular orange-flavored fizzy drink in the UK, as well as the word for the letter T in the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Peaceful and melodic, but a bit pretentious.

A surname that could become a first, an alternate to the already-taken REGIS.

Tuneful variation on the Claire names.

ALLEGRA is a delicate ballet-dancer name; ALLEGRO, which means a fast-paced movement in music, is stronger and more vibrant.

Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.