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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kalliope

Kalliope

♀ Girl

Pronounced kuh-LY-oh-pee /kəˈlaɪ.ə.pi/High

Meaning: beautiful voiceHigh

In 30 seconds: Kalliope is the Greek name meaning beautiful voice, borne by the muse of epic poetry. The mother of Orpheus and greatest of the nine muses, her name honors the highest poetic gift.
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Origin HighGreek
Meaningbeautiful voice
U.S. rank (2025)#1787 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births113 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,323

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519222025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kalliope (English: Calliope) is from Greek kallos (beauty) + ops (voice), meaning beautiful voice. In Greek mythology she was the muse of epic poetry, mother of Orpheus, and most important of the nine muses.

Calliope has been popular in Greek communities for centuries. The Kalliope spelling preserves the original Greek orthography. In the US it gained visibility through a character in Grey's Anatomy.

Did you know? The word calligraphy (beautiful writing) shares the Greek root kallos (beautiful) as Kalliope — connecting this name to the entire tradition of beautiful art-making in Western culture.
Overall data confidence 95%
Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon — reference for KalliopeBehind the Name: Calliope — name etymology reference

Variations

CalliopeKallipeKallie

Nicknames

KalliKallieOpi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kalliope (Calliope) (mythological)
    In Greek mythology, the muse of epic poetry and mother of Orpheus.

If you like Kalliope…

Cassandra— four-syllable Greek mythological name of similar grandeur
Penelope— four-syllable Greek mythological name
Persephone— Greek mythological name of similar classical weight
Ariadne— four-syllable Greek mythological name of similar elegance
Hermione— four-syllable Greek mythological name of similar beauty

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Frequently Asked

What does Kalliope mean?

Kalliope means beautiful voice, from the Greek kallos (beauty) and ops (voice).

How do you pronounce Kalliope?

Kalliope is pronounced kuh-LY-oh-pee (/kəˈlaɪ.ə.pi/), with four syllables.

Is Kalliope a girl's name?

Yes, Kalliope is a feminine name from Greek mythology.

How popular is the name Kalliope?

Kalliope is used in Greek communities and growing as a mythological name in English-speaking countries.

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