Musical Icon Names












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One of the fastest growing category of names today is names that reflect or pay tribute to musical icons of yesteryear. Parents are paying homage to bands and musicians from the 1960s-1990s by bestowing their names on all sorts of kids today-- witness the rise of names like Lennon, Hendrix, and Zeppelin as first names. Here is a list of some that are already popular, plus some others you could use. Most of these have been culled from lower numbers of the top 7000 baby names list of the past 10 years or so.

Name Inspiration
Ace Ace Frehley from KISS, also the song "Ace of Spades" by AC/DC
Aretha Aretha Franklin
Axl Axl Rose from Guns n Roses
Balin Marty Balin from the Jefferson Airplane
Barrett Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd
Bo Bo Diddley
Bocephus Hank Williams Jr's nickname
Bolan Marc Bolan from T. Rex
Bonham John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
Booker Booker T. & the MGs
Bowie David Bowie
Boz Boz Scaggs
Cash Johnny Cash
Cassidy Grateful Dead song also Jack Cassady
Cobain Kurt Cobain from Nirvana
Coltrane John Coltrane
Creedence Creedence Clearwater Revival (band)
Crimson King Crimson
Crosby David Crosby (Crosby, Stills, Nash)
Crue Motley Crue (band)- Crue has been getting more popular recently, possibly influenced by the rise of Cruz as a first name.
Daltry Roger Daltry - the Who
Danzig Glenn Danzig (the Misfits/Samhain)-- this is also a city in Poland (the German name for Gdansk), but when it pops up on name lists, it's probably in honor of the band
Del Del Shannon
Dio Ronnie James Dio
Dokken Dokken (band)
Domino "Fats" Domino
Elvis Elvis Presley
Everly the Everly Brothers
Fender brand of guitar
Floyd Pink Floyd (band)
Frampton Peter Frampton
Free the band Free, the songs "Free Bird", "Keep on Rockin in the Free World" etc. 
Geffen record company founder
Gibson brand of guitar
Haggard Merle Haggard
Halen Van Halen
Hendrix Jimi Hendrix
Henley Don Henley from the Eagles
Holiday Billie Holiday
Iggy Iggy Pop
Isley the Isley Brothers
Jagger Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones)
Jethro Jethro Tull (which was named after the 18th century inventor of the seed drill)
Jett Joan Jett
Joplin after Janis Joplin (or Scott Joplin; rock 'n' roll probably wouldn't exist without him either)
Journey the band Journey
Jovi band Bon Jovi
Kantner Paul Kantner from the Jefferson Airplane
Kiedis Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Layla Eric Clapton/Derek & the Dominos song
Lennon John Lennon
Lennox Annie Lennox
Lola the Kinks song
Lucille the name of B.B. King's guitar
Lula "Be Bop a Lula"- early rock n roll song by Gene Vincent
Lynott Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy
Marley Bob Marley
Mayall John Mayall
Maybellene song by Chuck Berry, one of the first rock n' roll songs ever recorded
McCartney Paul McCartney
Mercury Freddie Mercury from Queen
Miles Miles Davis
Mingus Charles Mingus (jazz musician)
Morrison Van/Jim Morrison
Morrissey Morrissey from the Smiths (this name pops up from time to time, though Morrissey isn't known for being the rocker that some of the others on this list are!)
Nash Graham Nash from Crosby, Stills & Nash
Nile Nile Rodgers
Nyro Laura Nyro
Otis Otis Redding
Ozzy Ozzy Osbourne
Presley Elvis Presley
Rainey Ma Rainey
Reed Lou Reed
Reznor Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails
Rider band Red Rider, songs "Riders on the Storm"
Rigby The song "Eleanor Rigby" spawned tons of girls named Eleanor, but few Rigbys.
Ringo Ringo Starr from the Beatles
Roxy Roxy Music (band)
Rush Rush (band)
Sabbath Black Sabbath (band)
Seger Bob Seger (also Seeger as in Pete Seeger)
Smokey Smokey Robinson
Starr Ringo Starr
Stevie Stevie Nicks, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Strummer Joe Strummer from the Clash
Tesla Nowadays this name is probably given in honor of inventor Nikola Tesla, but in previous eras, the band Tesla was more of an influence.
Thelonius Thelonius Monk
Triumph the band Triumph
Van Van Morrison, Van Halen?
Vaughan Stevie Ray Vaughan
Vedder Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam
Withers Bill Withers
Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
Ziggy Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie album)