Musical Cat Names

  1. Raga
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, musical term
    • Meaning:

      "color or melody"
    • Description:

      Raga is musical, yes, but that 'rag' syllable worries us.
  2. Chord
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "three musical notes played together"
    • Description:

      Chord may be considered a variation of the cowboy-cool name Cord, or an independent musical name. Actor Chord Overstreet, of Glee fame, introduced this name to many American parents.
  3. Etude
    • Origin:

      French,"study"
    • Meaning:

      "study"
    • Description:

      An original musical possibilty for a lover of Chopin.
  4. Manzie
    • Origin:

      Music name
    • Description:

      Manzie was an obscure one-person name until Woody Allen used it for his young daughter, named after jazz drummer Manzie Johnson. Johnson played with another jazz musician, Sidney Bechet, whose last name Allen used for his other little girl.
  5. Chanson
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "song"
    • Description:

      This musical name would have to be spoken with a French accent--otherwise it would sound like a trendy boy's name, a la BRANSON.
  6. Duet
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "music for two"
  7. Piano
    • Origin:

      Music name
    • Description:

      If Banjo can be a name, why not Piano? Could be inspired by prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.
  8. Opera
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      A very distinctive musical choice, but be aware that many people will think you've named your child Oprah.
  9. Rego
    • Origin:

      Portuguese
    • Meaning:

      "ditch, channel"
    • Description:

      A surname that could become a first, an alternate to the already-taken REGIS.
  10. Cantata
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "musical composition with vocal elements"
    • Description:

      Light and delicate musical name would make an unusual choice.
  11. Musique
    • Origin:

      French word name
    • Meaning:

      "music"
    • Description:

      As more English words get turned into names, parents in search of a really. unusual name may look to words from other languages, in this case French. Musique has an undoubtedly, well, musical sound, and even resembles familiar French names like Monique.
  12. Gershwin
    • Origin:

      Musical name
    • Description:

      The adopted surname of iconic songwriting brothers George and Ira (born Gershovitz) might make a nice musical middle name.
  13. Mandolin
    • Origin:

      French, musical intrument
    • Description:

      Mandolin may seem like an outlandish choice for a name, but since BANJO has been used as a baby name, all the instruments in the band seem to be auditioning for a place on birth certificates. This one comes with a real name nickname, MANDY.
  14. Maraca
    • Origin:

      Musical name
    • Description:

      Maraca sounds more like a name than Banjo, so why not? It's rhythmic and, well, musical, so might make an adventurous choice.
  15. Strummer
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "one who strums (a stringed musical instrument)"
    • Description:

      Cool word name for boys evocative of rock and roll. Julia Stiles named her son Strummer in 2017.
  16. Cappella
    • Origin:

      Itallian, musical term
    • Description:

      It's usually preceded by the letter 'A'--as in 'a capella'--singing without accompaniment, and probably has never been used as a girl's name, but in this anything-goes naming climate, we're putting it out there as a possibility.
  17. Sonatina
    • Origin:

      Italian, musical term
    • Description:

      Makes SONATA even more feminine and musical
  18. Harp
    • Origin:

      Music name
    • Description:

      Feels as if it's missing a syllable.
  19. Marimba
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Music name
    • Description:

      Can you hear the beat?
  20. Galinda
    • Origin:

      Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "soft singing voice"
    • Description:

      The original name of Glinda from Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked and the subsequent Broadway musical. She drops the 'a' from her name to honor a goat, who mispronounced her name as a Glinda.