Musical Baby Names

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

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.

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

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

Light and delicate musical name would make an unusual choice.

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.

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.

Neylan — a name of uncertain origins — seemingly came out of nowhere in 2023. Given to 122 girls, it was used five times more often than it was in the previous year, when it was given to just 25 babies. Mormon women's activist and author Neylan McBaine may played a role in introducing parents to this name.

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.

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

Makes SONATA even more feminine and musical

Cool word name for boys evocative of rock and roll. Julia Stiles named her son Strummer in 2017.

Feels as if it's missing a syllable.

Unusual, rhythmic, castanet-clicking. Alternative: FANDANGO.

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

Riff is the name of the leader of the Jets in West Side Story, drawn from the musical word for a repeated phrase in a song. A tragic character in the musical, but a jaunty sounding name with the vibes of Ridge, Riggs, Raffy, and Lyric too.

Can you hear the beat?

Also rendered as Kirtan, this name derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "describing, reciting, telling". It refers specifically to relating stories in Indian religions and to performances of devotional, narrative songs.

A word name with grandeur, musicality, and a hint of spirituality, Requiem could have the nickname Remi. Associated with remembrance, Catholic Mass, and music for the dead, it more literally means "rest". It has never been used as a name, as yet.