The literal meaning of Adagio is 'at ease.'  Adagio's use for a slow musical passage or ballet is contradicted by its lively sound and feel.

Adagio

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

Allegro

With its musical allusions, a harmonious possibility. 

Alto

Aria is a multi-cultural name with two extremely popular versions: this more word-like one along with Arya, the spelling used for the feisty young heroine of Game of Thrones. There were about 6400 baby girls named Aria in the US last year alog with 2400 named Arya, which counted together places the name in the Top 10.
 
The light and airy Aria entered the list in 2000 and now ranks among the Top 25 girl names in the US. In Italian, Aria's literal meaning is air, while in Hebrew it's a form of Ari meaning lion. An Aria is a musical term denoting a kind of song or melody, often in an opera.
Aria is a Top 100 name throughout the English-speaking world and also ranks highly in France and several European countries -- though notably not in Italy or Israel. In Persian, Aria is a male name, and in Indian it is considered unisex. 
Aria is also an improbably cool saint's name. Saint Aria (or Arria) of Rome was an early Christian martyr.

Aria

Although there are plenty of Bachs in the world besides Johann Sebastian, everyone will assume you're honoring the great composer -- and why not. 

Bach

Ballad could be the masculine answer to Aria. An obvious and cute nickname is Lad or Laddie.

Ballad

The musical word name Cadence, seemed to come out of nowhere to zoom up the charts; it rose over 700 spots between 2002 and 2004, and showed up in the Top 200 in 2007. It's gone down in the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a> list since then, though. Some might see it as a feminine relative of the popular Caden. Kadence and Kaydence are also rising.
 An early Cadence sighting was in the 1992 Armistead Maupin novel Maybe the Moon, in which the narrator heroine was a small actress called Cadence Roth, nn Cady. January Jones played a Cadence in American Wedding.

Cadence

A variant of the surname Cannon, or an English word name with several possible meanings. A canon is a clergyman, as well as a rule or law – especially within religious doctrine. In the arts, canon is also the name of the whole oeuvre or work of a particular writer or creator.

Canon

Light and delicate musical name would make an unusual choice.

Cantata

Caprice is a word name with an appealing sound and a light-hearted meaning. Caprice is a rare name, used for only ten baby girls in the US in 2023. 

Caprice

A Caroline abbreviation that was wildly popular with Mom's generation...or Grandma's. At one time it was a <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">name for baby girls born at Christmas</a>. because of its association with Christmas carols.
 Carol began to get popular at the end of the nineteenth century, but its high point was the late 1930s and 1940s, when it was a Top 10 name, reaching as high as Number 4 in 1941.

Carol

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

Cello

Popular Portuguese and Spanish name that refers to "dulce nombre de Maria" -- the sweet name of the Virgin Mary. English variant Dulcie has a different pronunciation.

Dulce

An original musical possibilty for a lover of Chopin.

Etude

One of the more prominent by-products of reality TV, via Disney. 

Fantasia

If Melody and Lyric are on your style sheet, the peaceful Harmony, popularized by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, should be too. 

Girls names starting with the "Har" sound like Harper, Harley, and Harlow have been trending in recent years. This musical choice fits right in, and it is no wonder that Harmony has been in the Top 200 since 2014.

Harmony

Mandoline might be a quirky music name, but it's definitely better than Banjo. 

Mandoline

Along with August, March is one of the month names perfectly suited to boys. This brisk single-syllable name – which derives from the name of Mars, the Roman god of war – is worth considering as either a first or middle option. As a surname, it brings warm memories of the girls of Little Women, and of twentieth century actor Fredric.

March

A melodious choice big in the sixties, Melody is now starting to pick up tempo again. It cracked the Top 150 for the first time ever in 2015. Melody is also the name of Ariel's equally curious and more tom-boyish daughter in The Little Mermaid sequel. Read more about Melody and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> in our featured blog.

Melody

Minuet is delicate, dancey, and lacy, with a Masterpiece Theatre feel. Is Minuet a real name? Not really, though similar-sounding <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/162/french-names">French names</a> such as Minette and Manette are.

Minuet

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

Mozart

Octave shortens Octavius to a more manageable length, keeping the "eighth" meaning. In English speaking countries, however, people could easily confuse this with the musical term octave.

Octave

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

Opera

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

Rhapsody

A musical name that is undeniably cool and, well, rhythmic.  Its biggest challenge may be the spelling.  Well, maybe not the biggest challenge.  Save this one for a middle name.

Rhythm

Peaceful and melodic, but a bit pretentious. 

Serenade

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

Sonata

Name that makes a dramatic musical statement. 

Symphony

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

Tempo

Timpani

Page, Poet, and Story all get used as names, so why not Verse? Teen Mom's Kailyn Lowry used it as a name for one of her sons.

Verse

Viola has several positive elements going for it: the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 
 In the Bard's gender-bending comedy of identity and disguise, Viola is the appealing, passionate heroine. Later takes on this tale include Shakespeare in Love, with Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola de Lesseps and She's the Man starring Amanda Bynes.
 The most distinguished current bearer is Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis.
 Viola was a Top 50 name from 1899 to 1911, falling off the list in 1972, but is still popular in other countries such as Italy, where it is Number 15. And with Violet not sounding quite as fresh as it did, the strong Viola could find herself back in the running.

Viola

Tabitha_Stone's list "Classical Music Inspired Names" of 32 great name ideas: Adagio - Viola!

Classical Music Inspired Names

A list of names for both male and female based off of classical music techniques, instruments, and composers.