Musician Baby Names

Hot R & B singer Kelis Rogers's name is a combination of those of her parents' -- Kenneth and Eveliss.

Actor French Stewart introduced this one to the lexicon. French is part word name, part place name, and part surname-name, reminiscent of celebrity baby names that reference a nationality rather than simply a place, such as Moroccan.

This evocative Spanish surname would make an unusual but lively choice for a girl.

Talib is a North African name with an admirable meaning, associated with rapper Talib Kweli.

Possible musical tribute name to the waiflike, husky-voiced midcentury French singer who was given this last name because of her birdlike quality.

Single-named R&B singer Jaheim could inspire others to pick up on this unusual name.

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

Authentic African name that blipped in popularity a few years ago when hip-hop singer Ashanti first arrived on the scene.

Singer-actress Queen Latifah -- born Dana Owens -- makes this North African Muslim name sing.

Plausible music hero choice with undertones of Joan Baez's social activist folkie persona.

Popular Irish name brought here by singer Sinead O'Connor, could make a striking choice for a child with deep Irish roots.

We all know that Chaka really means disco.

This is most familiar here as a musical name, via Indian Parsi conductor Zubin Mehta, but it certainly could be used by others.

This is the sort of name a four-year-old would make up for himself.

Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.

Embodies both color and operatic style.

Opera lovers and fans of the great diva might make a more sensitive choice with Maria.

Adema is the name of a rock band that might be adapted as a girl's name -- though sounds a bit like a medical condition.

Naming babies for personal heroes is the cool contemporary trend followed by Woody Allen when he honored New Orleans jazz clarinetist Sidney Bechet in his daughter's name--adding the middle name Dumaine after a cornet player who was another of his musical heroes. Bechet has a nice, catchy Gallic feel.

Somewhat gruff name that might be better feminized as Duffy.