Piper

Piper ~ Flute Player ~ English

There's something about this name that makes me smile. It's bright, cheerful, musical, and adorable. Its meaning is obvious, but not exactly immediate (seeing as how it's not a common word in modern English), making it that much more wearable for a little girl. Piper makes a contemporary fashion statement, but it's not overly bold.

History
While Piper wasn't used until recent times as a first name, the word piper has been in existence for quite some time to describe a flute or bagpipe player.

The fairytale The Pied Piper may tell a dark and eerie story, but it's hardly the first thing we think of when we hear this name. Still, it's one of the most prominent examples of the use of this word. Through the tellings and retellings of this legend, as told by the Brothers Grimm and many others, a name for the piper is never given. It's part of the mystery surrounding his existence that he appears suddenly, does not identify himself, and is simply known as the "piper".

Like many other terms that describe an occupation, Piper is an English surname. It comes from the Old English word pipere, which refers to a pipe player.

Popularity
Fifteen years ago, the name Piper wasn't even a blip on the radar in America. Using this name would have been quite unusual until the year 2000 or so, when the TV show Charmed brought this name to our attention. (Charmed also helped launch Phoebe to more popularity.) Piper recently broke through the top 100 names for girls and now sits at #97.

Here's a graphic of how Piper's popularity plays out across the country, courtesy of Baby Name Mapper. Even though it's safe to say Piper is loved in every state, it's a favorite in the midwest and the northwest, with the most Piper fans residing in Montana.

If you're worried about Piper being "too popular," it might just depend on where you live. Just because a name is in the top 100s doesn't mean your daughter will have to share her name with a classmate. I'm a big believer that sometimes the name chooses you, so if you're looking for a little encouragement to get past the potential popularity of Piper, you got it! It's a fantastic, on-trend choice.

Variations
Piper doesn't come with any formal variations. It's simple and perfect just how it is. But even for a name that already strikes us as youthful and sweet, nicknames may come into play. I've heard of parents using Pipe, Pippa, Pip, Pipes, or Pepper. And some parents, perhaps looking to make the name stand out (no need!), spell the name Pyper, though that is rare.

Famous Namesakes & Celebrity Babies

• Piper Perabo, actress
• Piper Laurie, actress
• Piper Maru Anderson-Klotz, daughter of actress Gillian Anderson
• Piper Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin
• Piper Adelaide Gooding, daughter of Cuba Gooding Jr.