embrisa.
embrisa.
Theme
Feminine

Calliope

kəˈlaɪ.ə.pi

Beautiful voice

Greek

How to say it

ca · LLI · o · pe

kəˈlaɪ.ə.pi

What it means

Greek, 'beautiful voice,' from kallos, 'beauty,' plus ops, 'voice'; the muse of epic poetry.

Calliope joins the Greek kallos, 'beauty,' to ops, 'voice,' so 'beautiful voice.' She was the eldest of the nine Muses, the one who inspired epic poetry and Homer himself. The name also rides on the calliope, a steam-powered fairground organ. Grand and musical, it softens to Callie. Said kuh-LY-uh-pee.

How to spell Calliope

The standard spelling is Calliope. Common variants include Kalliope, Calliopi, but Calliope is the most widely used form.

Popularity over time

#10 #100 #1000 #1 #1385518802025

peaked at #451 in 2025, currently #451 in 2025.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving

Heads-up notes

  • Nickname

    Callie.

  • Pronunciation

    Four syllables: kuh-LY-uh-pee.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

  • Calliope Muse of epic poetry in Greek mythology
  • Calliope Torres surgeon character on the television series Grey's Anatomy

Spelling variants

  • Kalliope
  • Calliopi

Common questions

What does the name Calliope mean?
Greek, 'beautiful voice,' from kallos, 'beauty,' plus ops, 'voice'; the muse of epic poetry.
What does Calliope mean in Greek?
In Greek, Calliope means "Beautiful voice." Calliope joins the Greek kallos, 'beauty,' to ops, 'voice,' so 'beautiful voice.' She was the eldest of the nine Muses, the one who inspired epic poetry and Homer himself. The name also rides on the calliope, a steam-powered fairground organ. Grand and musical, it softens to Callie. Said kuh-LY-uh-pee.
How do you pronounce Calliope?
Calliope is pronounced kəˈlaɪ.ə.pi. Say it as ca-LLI-o-pe, with the stress on the "lli" syllable.
How do you spell Calliope?
The standard spelling is Calliope. Common spelling variants include Kalliope, Calliopi.
Is Calliope a boy or girl name?
Calliope is traditionally a feminine name.
How popular is the name Calliope?
Calliope ranked #451 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.