Musical names

Credits: Pinterest / Ashlee Comerford

I thought I'd try something different and talk about names related to music. I haven't named the category this blog post comes under, since it's a new start! As someone who is an amateur pianist and an ex-choir singer, I'm rather fond of music, so I thought it would be nice to make a blog post here about it. Please excuse the lack of boys names!

Aria

Aria is of English origins though has a meaning of "song; "melody" (or simply "air") in the Italian language. Aria began to be used as a name in the 20th century in the English speaking world, and is very rare in Italy, where its meaning comes from. In England and Wales, Aria ranked at #170 in the popularity charts in 2014, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #29 a year later.

Cadence

Cadence is of English origins and has a meaning of "rhythm; flow". Like Aria, Cadence only first started to be used as a given name in the 20th century. In the United States, it had a ranking of #341 in the popularity charts in 2015.

Calliope

Calliope is of Greek Mythological origins, though this particular spelling is a Latin form of Kalliope, which itself has a meaning of "beautiful voice". Kalliope was the Greek Goddess of epic poetry and eloquence, as well as being one of the nine muses. 

Fifer

Fifer is of American English origins as relating to the surname, which is the same as the given name. The surname Fifer itself is the Anglicised version of the Germanic Pfeiffer, which is an occupational surname meaning "whistle; pipe". Originally, Pfeiffer was the surname of pipe players.

Harper

Harper is of English origins and was traditionally an occupational surname which was most commonly worn by those who played the harp, or harp makers. David Beckham popularised the name for girls when his daughter Harper Seven was born in 2011.

Viola

Viola is of Latin origins and has a meaning of "violet". As well as a character in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Viola is also a pluck and bow instrument that belongs to the violin family. 

Cecilia

Cecilia is of Latin origins and comes from the Roman family name of Caecilius, which itself has a meaning of "blind", however Saint Cecilia was an early saint who was later viewed as the patron saint of musicians. In the United States, Cecilia had a ranking of #181 in 2015.

Johann

Johann is the Germanic variation of John, which is of Biblical origins and has a meaning of "Yahweh is gracious". In music however, Johann is after Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous Austrian composer of the Baroque period who lived between the years 1685 and 1750. 

Amadeus

Amadeus is of Later Roman origins and has a meaning of "love of God", however in music, Amadeus is after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (actually christened as Johann Chrisostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, but he preferred to use the middle name Amadeus as opposed to his others), one of the most influential musicians of the Classical era, living between the years 1756 - 1791. 

Franz

Franz is of Germanic origins and is a form of Franciscus, which itself is a Latin form of Francis, which has a meaning of "Frenchman". However, in music, Franz is after Franz Liszt, a renowned Hungarian musician who lived between the years 1811 - 1886. In England and Wales, Franz ranked at #223 in the popularity charts in 2014, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #482 a year later.