Piper is one of those girl’s names that seemingly came out of nowhere. It didn’t make the top 1000 baby names list until 1999, no doubt influenced by the character Piper Halliwell in the show Charmed which debuted the previous fall. Since then, it’s jumped in popularity and broke into the list of top 100 girl’s names in 2012.
What’s interesting about Piper is that it’s a name that’s hard to pin down. Although it sounds masculine, it’s rarely if ever used as a boy’s name. It’s not vowel heavy or old-fashioned like a lot of the more popular girl’s names. It makes lists like “Hipster Baby Names” and “Occupational Baby Names”.
Although it has grown it has grown increasingly popular, Piper is somehow a cool name that doesn’t seem all that common. To make it stand out even more, it’s important to pair it with a middle name that has just as much character and presence.
Here are a few different ways to approach finding the right middle name for Piper.
Keep It Musical
Piper as a first name evolved from the Old English and Scandinavian last name that was given to people who literally played the pipe. At its core, Piper is a musical name so why not pair it with another one?
Try Piper Allegra, Piper Cadence, or Piper Aria. You can also give a bit of a masculine spin with names like Piper Reed or even Piper Solo.
Of course, you can always go with an ode to your favorite band or musician as well. Try Piper Brahams, Piper Chopin, Piper Goodman, Piper Brubek, Piper Prestley, or even Piper Starr.
Or, try bringing in a nod to your favorite song with Piper Jolene, Piper Rhiannon, Piper Layla, or Piper Caroline.
Mix up the Syllables
Since Piper has two syllables, you can play with the rhythm a bit but pairing it with something longer or shorter.
You may want to take your last name into account, too. Try different combinations of long and short and see what sounds best.
Pairing Piper with a one syllable middle name gives it a short but sweet vibe. Try something equally as funky like Piper Ash, Piper Bea, Piper Wren, or Piper Laure.
Alternatively, you can stick with something a little more classic like Piper Ann, Piper Lynn, Piper Lee, or Piper Claire.
Names with three or more syllables work well, too. There’s Piper Madison, Piper Avery, Piper Allison, or Piper Maribel. Want something longer? Try Piper Anastasia, Piper Theodosia, Piper Emiliana, or Piper Iphigenia.
Go Super Funky
Piper may be on some hipster name lists but in reality, it’s a pretty mainstream name.
So, why not pair it with something that’s completely unique? Try Piper Breah, Piper Cleo, Piper Huntley, Piper Juniper, or Piper Zinnia. There are a lot of great boy names that pair nicely with Piper, too, like Piper Auden, Piper Orly, Piper Greer, Piper Teigan, or Piper Gray.
This is also a great opportunity for you to pay tribute to some of your favorite things.
Whether it’s your favorite color, activity, television show, or city, you can find some way to include it as a middle name. Try Piper Blue, Piper Everest, Piper Brady, Piper Brooklyn, Piper Steel, or Piper Paris. With a bit of creativity, you can make just about anything you love fit.
Aim at Alliteration...
The “P” sound is so prevalent in Piper that a middle name that also starts with “P” really pops. Try Piper Peyton, Piper Paige, Piper Portia, Piper Paisley, or Piper Pearl. Again, there are some great masculine names that sound great here, too, like Piper Page, Piper Puck, Piper Pax, or Piper Penn.
… or Play down the Middle
If a middle name that starts with “P” is a little too much, try a name with the “P” sound in the middle. Piper Harper, Piper Hope, Piper Juniper, Piper Maple, and Piper April all carry the “P” sound through to the middle name without any alliteration.
The Perfect Pairing
When it comes to choosing a middle name, there’s no right answer. In a lot of ways, it’s actually more difficult than picking the first name! When it comes to finding the right fit or Piper, there are so many ways to go.
Piper is a truly unique name in that it feels very hip and unique but it’s also one of the top 100 most popular girl’s names. That’s a rare quality to have in a name which makes it all the more difficult to find the right match.
Hopefully, we gave you some good ideas or at least a nice place to start thinking up your own perfect match.
