Expecting parents who love classical music can easily turn their passion for a melody into inspiration for their baby’s name. Classical music offers so many opportunities for new parents to choose a moniker that sounds invigorating and exciting. These names for boys are big on drama just like the sounds of the symphony or opera and light enough to fit for contemporary boys like a gentle ballet or evening vespers.
Baby names inspired by classical music are rich with history and these names either have music as their origin or are inspired by legendary composers and performers. Baby names inspired by classical music range from big and bold to light and airy and we are certain we have found a great mix of names that offers possibilities for every parent. Get ready to tap your toes because here are 25 beautiful baby names for boys inspired by classical music.
25. Brio
Brio is an adorable music term and name for baby boys with Italian origins that means “vivacity, zest.” In music, the term is used to describe a piece with brilliance and energy. Often, Mozart’s pieces contain “brio.” The name has yet to catch on in the US but we think it has tons of potential.
24. Piper
Piper is a wonderful gender-neutral name that works great for both boys and girls. Do not let the rising popularity of this name for girls stop you from choosing it for your baby boy. This storied name is an English occupational appellation for some who “plays the pipes” or a “flute player.”
23. Reed
Reed has the amazing quality of working as both a nature name and a music name. Reeds are grassy growths found near flowing water. A reed is also a mouthpiece for a number of instruments. The name has English origins and means “red-haired.”
22. Lyric
Lyric debuted in the top 1000 in 2007 and has stayed modestly popular ever since. Lyric is a straightforward music name that has Greek origins that mean “lyric.” The name is seen as a unisex option and it is currently trending for girls. We think it works for boys because it sounds similar to other popular names like Eric, Alec, etc.
21. Harp
Sure, you could go with Harper, but with the growing popularity of the name for baby girls, the one-syllable Harp might be more attractive for parents expecting a boy. The name refers to the orchestral harp or a harpsichord or a harmonica!
20. Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical era whose influence on his contemporaries and later composers was immense. He also had an excellent name! His surname, Haydn is properly pronounced in German as HYE-den. The name means “heathen” and if that gives you pause, consider it as a middle name!
19. Dorian
Dorian has been a top 1000 name in the US since the 1940s. The Greek name refers to ancient tribes and means “stranger.” The Dorian scale or mode, in music, is the second of seven modes. We love this brilliant and unusual pick and its subtle nod to music.
18. Walton
William Walton (1902-1983) was a prominent British composer of the mid-20th century whose music was notable for its lyricism, lush post-Romantic harmonies. Walton is an excellent name and it was in the US top 1000 until the 1950s. Walton has English origins and means “fortified town.”
17. Alto
Alto is a harmonious possibility with Latin origins that means “high.” The meaning is ironic because an Alto in choral music is the lowest female sung part. Alto was a hot name in the US from 1881 until 1899. We’d love to see it make a comeback.
16. Claude
Claude Debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although he decried the label in his lifetime, he is often considered one of the first impressionist composers. Debussy was French and so is his name Claude which comes from the Roman name Claudius. Unfortunately, this name means “lame,” but you can keep it a secret.
RELATED: 25 Good Baby Names for Boys with Bad Meanings
15. Fife
The name Fife means “a flute.” It comes from the German Pfeife, or “pipe.” The name is also popular in Scottish tradition as a place name. Fife has yet to take off in the US and if it sounds too “out there” consider for a middle name.
14. Ives
Charles Ives (1874-1954) Charles Edward Ives was an American modernist composer, one of the first American composers of international renown. His music was largely ignored during his early life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Ives is an exceptional name for a little boys that’s the English form of Yves, a name that means “yew tree.”
13. Solo
Solo is a name that works well for both boys and girls. It, of course, means “unaccompanied.” Solo might seem like an unusual name but that did not stop British actor Rosamund Pike from choosing it for her son who was born in 2012.
12. Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (1813-1901) was a famed Italian opera composer and one of the most widely regarded composers. You can pick any one of his lovely names as inspiration, but we particularly love his last name Verdi which is an Italian charmer meaning “green.”
11. Apollo
Parents recognized the possibility for the name Apollo in 2012 and it is now more popular than ever before. Apollo is the handsome son of Zeus in Greek mythology and is the god of music, among many other things. The meaning of this name is disputed but most agree that the name referred to Apollo’s mighty power “to destroy.”
10. Coda
Coda is a music term for the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. Coda sounds so similar to Codie that we could not pass it up. Coda is an Italian term from Latin origins that mean “tail.”
9. Pan
In ancient Greek religion and mythology Pan is the god of the wild including rustic song. Pan was often depicted with the legs of a goat and the body of a pipes-playing man known for his mischievousness. Pan means “all” or “shepherd.”
8. Wolfgang
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Born in Salzburg, in the Holy Roman Empire, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. We are found of Wolfgang for its ability to shorten to Wolf. Wolfgang has German origins that mean “traveling wolf.”
7. Orpheus
Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen. Apollo is said to have taught the musician how to play lyre. He is considered a prophet whose name means “the darkness of the night.”
6. Bard
Bard is a boy’s name of Irish origin meaning “minstrel, poet.” The Scottish variation is Baird, live your life! Bard makes for a welcome alternative to Brad, however we know it is not going to be for every parent. Bard plays well with others so consider it as a middle name if you love it.
5. Zamir
Zamir is a secular Hebrew name that means “song” or “bird.” Name that begin with Z are super hot right now so it is a mystery why this name has not taken off. We feel like we found hidden treasure with this beautiful moniker!
4. Harmony
Harmony is far more popular for girls but it has traditionally been a unisex option. For instance, the film director, Harmony Korine enjoys this name. We chose this one for obvious reasons and think it is such a nice, gentle pick for a boy.
3. Grant
William Grant Still Jr. (1895-1978) was an American composer of nearly 200 works, including five symphonies, four ballets, nine operas, over thirty choral works, plus art songs, chamber music and works for solo instruments. He was the first black composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra and the first of many other accomplishments. We love his entire name but feel moved by Grant. The popular name has Scottish and French origins that mean “large.”
2. Ronen
You are probably familiar with the Irish name Ronan, but let us introduce you to his Hebrew cousin, Ronen. Ronen comes from the Hebrew word ron which means “song.” If you are after a music name to honor your Jewish heritage and that’s accessible, you could do no better than Ronen.
RELATED: 25 Lyrical Baby Names for Girls Inspired by Classical Music
1. Copland
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as “the Dean of American Composers.” You have probably seen a similar name spelled with an E, Copeland. Copland was the son of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania with the surname Kaplan which was changed to Copland. We love Copland and think it works as a given name much like Copeland.
There you go! 25 unique baby names for boys that are inspired by classical music, composers, terms and more. We hope you feel inspired by these names and if you are so inclined, you will pick one for your baby boy and future musical prodigy.