Calliope is a beautiful and unique name of Greek origin. It comes from the Greek word "kalliopê," which means "beautiful-voiced." Calliope was one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology, each of whom was associated with a specific art or science. Calliope was the Muse of epic poetry, and she was said to have been born fully grown and clothed in beautiful robes. According to myth, she was also the mother of the Sirens by the river god, Okeanos.
The name Calliope has gained popularity over time, particularly in the United States, where it has seen a steady increase in usage since the late 1980s. It is often associated with creativity and intellect due to its connection with the Muse of epic poetry.
In literature and art, Calliope has been used as a character name, most notably in "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster, where she appears as a princess who must be freed from her tower by the main character. This further contributes to the unique and intriguing nature of this name.
The name Calliope has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. With only seven births recorded in 1917 and five births each year between 1921 and 1932, it was quite rare during that time period.
However, beginning in the late 1980s, there was a noticeable uptick in the number of babies named Calliope. In 1990, ten girls were named Calliope, which was more than double the previous year's total of five births. This trend continued throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, with peaks in popularity occurring in 2003 (with 26 births), 2005 (36 births), and 2008 (47 births).
The true surge in popularity for the name Calliope occurred around the year 2010. In that year alone, there were 87 births recorded, more than double the previous year's total of 42 births. Since then, the number of babies named Calliope has continued to rise steadily each year.
In 2022, a record-breaking 618 girls were named Calliope, marking an impressive increase from the mere seven births recorded over a century ago in 1917. Overall, since 1917, there have been a total of 4,795 babies named Calliope born in the United States.
This data illustrates how trends and preferences in baby names can change dramatically over time, with certain names falling in and out of fashion. Despite its once rarity, Calliope has since become a popular choice for parents in recent years, particularly among those who prefer unique and distinctive names for their daughters.