These Musical Instrument Inspired Baby Names Hit All The Right Notes

Just like some parents pass down an aptitude for math or the love of a particular sport to their little ones, many families bestow a love of music to their children. When both parents are musically inclined, the theme often pops up in baby-naming conversations. Some parents choose monikers inspired by music from the '80s, or specific songs or musicians (like the Reddit couple who named their two sons Ozzy and Jude). Others search for inspiration through instruments. If you're one of those who's searching, and planning to welcome a little one into a musical family soon, we've rounded up the names we think you should consider for your short list. 

Some names are shared with celebrities, television characters, and authors, while many are rare, unique, and ripe for the picking for parents who hope their little ones will grow up to stand apart. There are strong, one-syllable names that make a statement on their own, and rhythmical names that string together for families planning for siblings (read to the end for our favorite pairing for two musical girls). 

The name Piper evokes the image of a pipe player leading a marching band down a bustling city street, thus; we love Piper for parents who envision their child growing to exhibit leadership qualities. Piper became popular in the late '90s when the show "Charmed" debuted (with one of the three main character sisters dawning the name). It dropped off briefly, but it's currently rising in popularity again in the US.

The harp is associated with beauty and divinity — often depicted in art and religious texts as the chosen instrument of angels. For parents who believe their child is an angel or a gift from above, Harper is the perfect name choice. Beyond it's reach in music, the name also belongs to the influential American author Harper Lee (who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird.") Most commonly used for little girls, Harper currently ranks in the top 20 most popular feminine names in the US.

Parents who have watched the Disney show "Bluey" for baby name inspiration might recall the character Banjo. But long before it was given to a dog, Banjo was the nickname of a historical Australian poet, who used it as his preferred pen name. Still rare in the United States, Banjo would be a great choice for parents who prefer their child to stand out in a crowd. It also comes with the potential for an adorable nickname — Joey.

Known as a tall plant and also an integral mouthpiece for a woodwind instrument, Reed takes on a third usage as a strong unisex baby name (though its more commonly chosen for boys). It's also the surname of notable people across multiple genres (like football player Andre Reed and the late actress Donna Reed). It follows a growing trend among parents favoring one-syllable baby names that stand alone (as opposed to shortened names like "Bob" and "Pete").

A larger version of the vibrant violin, Viola is known for making a deeper alto sound among the string instruments. For a little girl who will grow to make her strength and presence known, we think this name fits perfectly. Viola peaked in the US in 1908, but fell off the rankings completely in the mid-'70s and has not appeared since. We'd love to see her make a well-deserved comeback!

One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, Calliope is also the name of an instrument (originally called a steam organ) which produces a whistle-like sound. As a little girl's name, it means "beautiful voiced," and we love it for adorable nicknames parents can actually use (Callie, Cal, Poppy, Opie, etc.) Calliope showed up in the US name rankings in 2016 and has been steadily climbing ever since.

Traditionally the cadence sets the pace of the music emitted from an instrument, thus; Cadence makes the perfect name for a trend-setting little one. Though it's most commonly chosen by parents of little girls, it also works as a proper, lengthened version of Cade — an Old English name for boys. We think Cadence works both ways — especially for future drummers.

Music lovers who followed "Glee" from 2009-2015 might remember Chord Overstreet, the actor who played Sam in the series. Evoking the guitar chord (multiple notes played at the same time,) the name is rare, unique, and well-suited for parents who are set on going against modern, popular trends.

While Cadence sets the pace, then Melody provides the rhythm (how cute would these two names be together for siblings?). Melody is currently on the rise and making its mark as a girl's name, and we love that for her. Nicknames for Melody include Melly, Mel, and Dee, all of which sound like they'd roll off the tongue of future classmates. And for music fans who also happen to be Disney princess lovers, Melody is the name of Ariel's daughter in modern adaptations of The Little Mermaid.