40 Rockstar Baby Names for Your Future Superstar

Taking inspiration from Elvis to Harry Styles.

Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield

When I was a kid, I was absolutely certain I was going to have a daughter someday and name her Emma after Baby Spice. (Victoria was a close second.) That was my absolute concrete plan circa 1997, and while I still like both names, that’s not quite the direction I’d go for 20+ years later.

However, looking to your favorite singer-songwriters, bands, and songs for baby name inspiration is a tried and true method and has been for generations. Just ask my younger brother, Dylan. (Named after Bob, of course.) Of course, the word rockstar is more than just about music; it's about the vibe, about commanding a stage, and about being an all-around icon. If music is a huge part of your life and you want your future child to one day pick up a guitar or a pen and become a famous musician, look no further than these rockstar-inspired baby names.

Related: These Dark Academia Baby Names Inspire Moodiness and Mystery

Rockstar Baby Names From the '60s and '70s

• Elvis - We’d be remiss not to start this list with the King of Rock ‘n Roll himself, the legendary Elvis Presley. Given that Elvis has been the subject of two high-profile movies in the past few years—Baz Luhrmann’s flashy Elvis and Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla—we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Elvis starts trending as a baby name again.
  

• Hendrix - Hendrix, inspired by the late Jimi Hendrix, is a gender-neutral name that continues to rise in popularity, especially for baby boys.

• Jagger - If you’re looking to legendary Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger for inspiration, you’re not alone! Pamela Anderson’s son Dylan’s middle name is Jagger, and Ashlee Simpson gave birth to daughter Jagger Snow Ross in 2015.

• Stevie - The mystical, magical Stevie Nicks makes for an enchanting baby name; her real name is actually Stephanie, but Stevie has a much more iconic appeal. If “Stevie” is too literal, you could consider Rhiannon or Sara, two Stevie-penned Fleetwood Mac songs.

• Santana - Santana is a Spanish name that means “holy” and a fun tribute to the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana.

• Lennon, Harrison, Starr, or McCartney - The Fab Four make for some fab baby name inspo. Lennon is the most popular name for sure; according to the official Social Security website, Lennon ranked #229 on the list of most popular names for girl in 2022, up from 237 the year prior. Harrison is coming for the crown, though; in 2022, it ranked #127 for boys.

• Janis - “Old school” names are coming back into fashion, so why not go with an ode to the one and only Janis Joplin? The name has been dormant for decades; it hasn’t cracked the top 1000 in more than 20 years. Perhaps it’s time for a revival?

• Morrison - Channel the Los Angeles dark glamour of The Doors frontman Jim Morrison with this gender-neutral name, which will definitely stand out in a crowd of Liams and Olivias.

• Bowie or Ziggy - Pay homage to the late David Bowie with either his stage name (Bowie) or his alter ego (Ziggy Stardust). Ziggy also makes a cute nickname for your little Space Oddity.

• Zeppelin - As in Led, obviously. It may not be the most common name in the world, but if the legendary ‘70s rock band shaped your view of music and remains your absolute favorite today, think outside the box and use this as a first or middle name for your little rocker.

• Freddie - Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara but started going by Freddie during his school days. It’s a simple, versatile, timeless name that subtly pays homage to the Queen frontman.

• Aretha - She might not have sung rock music, but let's be honest: no musician commanded a stage like the late Aretha Franklin. Aretha is of Greek origin and means “virtuous.”

• Dylan - Capping off the list of ‘60s and ‘70s-inspired rockstar baby names is Dylan, a classic nod to Robert Zimmerman himself, AKA Bob Dylan. Dylan is a gender-neutral name that continues to be one of the most popular picks for boys and girls and honestly needs no introduction!

Related: 30 Baby Names Inspired by Taylor Swift Songs

Rockstar Baby Names From the '80s

• Axl - Axl Rose’s actual first name is William, but that’s beside the point. It’s a Scandinavian name that can also be spelled “Axel” and ranked in the top 1000 names for baby boys in 2022.

• Turner - Pay tribute to the late, great Tina Turner with this last-name-as-first-name option that works well for both boys and girls.

• Bret - The frontman for Poison skipped the second “t” in his name, which makes it unique versus the more traditional Brett. It’s an obvious choice for boys, but would be cool for a little rocker girl too.

• Neil, Nikki - These Mötley Crüe-inspired names, taken from frontman Vince Neil and bassist Nikki Sixx, are subtle enough that they won’t feel too obvious, but still retain that rock ‘n roll edge.

• Lita - Lita is a cute pick that originated as a diminutive, a la Carlita or Lolita. The ‘80s musicians Lita Ford showed the world that girls could rock just like the guys.

• Sebastian - The Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach is one of the more famous Sebastians (besides the crab from The Little Mermaid!), but the name itself is massively popular. According to the Social Security index, Sebastian ranked as the 13th most popular boy name in 2022.

• Nelson - Feel the Purple Rain when you name your child after the dearly beloved legend himself, Prince Rogers Nelson.

• Wolfgang - The late Eddie Van Halen and his former wife Valerie Bertinelli named their son Wolfgang, and he went on to play alongside his father’s band. Wolfgang is a German name that just sounds like a rockstar.

Rockstar Baby Names From the '90s, '00s, and Today

• Gwen - Before she was a judge on The Voice and Mrs. Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani was the coolest girl around and the frontwoman for No Doubt. Gwen is a Welsh name that may not be the most popular at the moment, but is due for a comeback.

• Shirley - Shirley Manson, the frontwoman of the popular ‘90s band Garbage, is Scottish, but the name is an Old English word that loosely translates to “meadow.”

• Pearl - In honor of Pearl Jam, obviously! Gemstone-inspired names like Ruby, Opal and Pearl are all on the rise, but this name also recognizes one of the great grunge bands. (Oh, and it’s also the name of a Janis Joplin album.)

• Lenny - Whether you use it as a nickname for Leonard, Lenora, or Elena, Lenny is a fun nod to the one and only Lenny Kravitz.

• Liam or Noel - The Gallagher brothers of Oasis fame may not be on speaking terms most of the time, but you can’t deny that they both have great names. Liam, of course, is one of the most popular names of the 2020s; it’s currently the number-one name for boys. Noel is a gender-neutral name of French origin that translates to “Christmas.”

• Trent - Trent, after Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame, is an English name that means “traveler.”

• Jack - Jack White of the White Stripes is one of the most enduring rock icons of the 2000s to today, and Jack is the kind of name that never goes out of style or feels trendy or dated.

• Avril - For millennial parents who went through a pop-punk phase, of course! Avril is a French name that translates to “spring.” It’s also the French word for the month of April!

• Harry - After Mr. Styles, obviously. If you’re a longtime Directioner-turned-Harry superfan, why not name your little one after the already iconic young superstar?

• Miley - Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, but we all know her as Miley. Over the years, she’s gone from Disney pop star to bona fide rockstar, and the name just exudes cool.

• Greta - The band Greta Van Fleet only gets more and more popular, so expect an uptick in the first name Greta as a result. Beat the trend cycle and grab it now!

• Bellamy - This gender-neutral name, inspired by the Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, is of Irish, French and English origin and means “friend.”
  

Related: 130 Baby Names Inspired by Fictional Characters

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