Musical Baby Names

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

Long associated with jazz great Ornette Coleman, this name's main problem is that almost all other ette-ending names -- from Annette to Paulette -- are unequivocally feminine.

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.

A daring middle name possibility for classical concertgoers. Alternatives are Wolfgang and Amadeus.

Peaceful and melodic, but a bit pretentious.

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

In addition to being the term for a job performing music, Gig has been used as a name, as in onetime actor Gig Young--who was born Byron but took his stage name from a character he played.

In medieval France, a troubadour was a knighted lyric poet who composed and sang songs about courtly love. As a baby name, Troubadour makes a romantic and stately choice for a child, although this bold choice may be better relegated as a middle name.

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

An offbeat word name referring to the speed of a piece of music.

Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.

Toccata is delicate and musical yes, but still somehow unappealing.

Raga is musical, yes, but that 'rag' syllable worries us.

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.

We count Techno among the weird celebrity baby names, and yet we have to admit that it's the perfect choice for a child of Grimes and Elon Musk.

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.

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.

An original musical possibilty for a lover of Chopin.

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