Choosing the perfect baby name can be hard, but it's a little easier for those of us who are starting off with a theme — especially if that theme has to do with music. When it comes to the rock world, there are a lot of amazing artists, bands, and songs to draw inspiration from, including when it comes to finding the most rocking baby names out there. Hey, nobody said the hard rock has to stop when the baby arrives!
After all, it isn't just a genre of music; it's a lifestyle. And if a future rock star baby is on the way, the kiddo needs to have the perfect name, too. We wouldn't want a baby name that isn't hardcore enough to cramp their style!
Read on for 20 baby names for both boys and girls inspired by hard rock and music. Some of these names might be more quirky than others, but even if The One isn't on this list, maybe it'll help inspire the train of thought that will lead the parents-to-be to the name that fits the new baby best. Rock on!
BOWIE
This one is pretty obvious for parents who love to rock, but Bowie's actually a solid choice — and even though it's in reference to the legendary late David Bowie, it's a totally gender neutral name, too. There will be no debates about how baby got the name!
JAGGER
Another obvious choice — but also a solid one. Jagger has been rising in the ranks of name popularity over the years, and for good reason: Who wouldn't want to invoke Mick Jagger every time they call their child by name? This is a super cute pick for a girl, too.
HENDRIX
This name is awesome for a little boy, and it references Jimi Hendrix, the legendary musician who also happened to be one of the most influential of his time. Who knows? Naming a baby Hendrix could just happen to inspire the little one to grow up to make revolutionary music.
JETT
Joan Jett is just about as metal as it gets, and naming a baby girl after her is the best way to honor her. If it's important for mom and dad to have a strong female inspiring their choice behind baby names, it doesn't get much more powerful than Jett.
JOURNEY
When we think of classic rock, our minds immediately go to Journey, the band responsible for bringing us timeless hits like "Don't Stop Believin'." For fans of this band, Journey might be a pretty perfect baby name … and it's an unusual choice, too.
LENNON
John Lennon is obviously a musical icon, known for his work with The Beatles. He died way too soon at the young age of 40, but his memory lives on in the way that he influenced music, and a great way to continue his legacy is by naming a baby girl (or boy) Lennon after him.
AXL
The name Axl (occasionally spelled Axel) has been gaining a lot of popularity lately. Some parents just like the name, while others were inspired by rocker Axl Rose, the lead vocalist of Guns 'N Roses. Hey, we wouldn't have "Sweet Child of Mine" without him.
COBAIN
We will never forget Kurt Cobain and the influence he had on music — the Nirvana rocker's life ended way too soon, but his songs will live on forever. Just in case Kurt doesn't make the cut, Cobain is a more unusual option for a baby boy that will make it obvious who the name is honoring.
ELVIS
Elvis as a name for a baby may not be the most popular right now, but the fact that it's so uncommon might make it an even more attractive choice for rocker parents who are looking for something that will really make their baby stand out — he was called The King for a reason, right?
JOPLIN
After all her contributions to music, we could never leave a name inspired by Janis Joplin off this list! Joplin is a cute, original baby name for a little girl, and she can grow up knowing she was named after an absolute icon who didn't take anything from anybody.
QUEEN
Queen isn't a hugely popular baby name on its own, and it doesn't immediately make people think of hard rock … but it should. After all, Queen is the name of one of the most legendary bands to make a mark on music, and it's a perfect name for a baby girl who should be rock royalty.
RHIANNON
Instead of naming a baby after a musician, what about naming the little one after a song? For all those Stevie Nicks fans out there, Rhiannon is inspired by a song of the same name by Fleetwood Mac, and it also means "Great Queen," so obviously, it's impossible to go wrong with this one.
ZIGGY
Ziggy is a pretty adorable name, inspired by Ziggy Marley, the musician and son of Bob Marley. It's also been used in pop culture for a music-loving little boy before on Big Little Lies, and it's almost guaranteed that he'll be the only one in his kindergarten class with this name. There's also a link to Ziggy Stardust, the fictional character who inspired one of David Bowie's albums.
SANTANA
Santana — after the rock band named for musician Carlos Santana — is a solid name that gives us all the hard rock vibes. We think this one would be perfect for a girl, even though Santana himself is obviously a man. Maybe she'll end up growing up to be a "Black Magic Woman"?
ZEPPELIN
It's impossible to talk about rock-inspired baby names without bringing up Led Zeppelin … and no offense, but Led isn't exactly a great name. Zeppelin, though? That's pretty metal in itself, and we could totally see it being a cute choice for a boy or a girl.
STEVIE
We'd be totally remiss to suggest Rhiannon as a name without coming back to the legend herself? Naming a baby girl Stevie after Stevie Nicks is too cute, especially since Fleetwood Mac is still super popular. There are few women in music who rock harder than Stevie!
ALICE
Here's a classic name that never goes out of style — and just in case anyone's looking for a name that isn't overtly rock but still ties back to heavy metal. Alice is inspired by the band Alice in Chains, practically guaranteeing a baby who knows how to rock.
RINGO
A fan of The Beatles but don't love the name Lennon? Ringo, after Ringo Starr, is also an option. It's uncommon and quirky, which are two qualities that can be really important in choosing a baby name, and there's definitely no question about who "Ringo" is referring to. (Have we mentioned that Starr is also a great name?)
JONI
The name Joni — after Joni Mitchell, duh — is a great one to add to the list of potential names for baby girls. After all, Joni herself writes her own music, which is influenced by rock, and she's incredibly talented. She deserves a few baby namesakes out there!
ANI
Looking for even more baby name inspiration from a woman who can rock? Look no further than Ani DiFranco, another singer-songwriter who has been influenced by rock. The uncommon spelling of an otherwise relatively common, classic name will give away who this baby was named after, too.
