"rhythm, beat, flow"
Cadence
Pronunciation: [ k-AYD-uhns ]
A musical name flowing with rhythm and grace
Meaning & Origin
"falling, resolution"
The Story of Cadence
Cadence comes from the Latin cadere meaning to fall, which gave rise to the musical term for the rhythmic flow or beat of sound and movement. In music, a cadence is a sequence of chords or notes that brings a phrase to a resolution. The word entered English through Italian cadenza and French cadence. As a given name, Cadence has been predominantly used for girls but has crossed into boy usage, fitting the modern trend of musical and rhythmic word names.
Cadence entered the US baby name charts in the early 2000s and peaked around 2010-2015. While primarily used for girls, it has seen some use for boys as musical word names have grown in appeal. The Cade nickname makes it accessible and masculine-friendly.
Cadence represents the modern trend of giving children names drawn from music and artistic concepts, joining names like Harmony, Lyric, and Melody. For a boy, it signals parents who value artistic expression and are comfortable with gender-expansive naming choices.
Fun Facts
- In music, a cadence is the resolution of tension at the end of a musical phrase — a fitting metaphor for a child who brings completion to a family
- Cadence is among a group of musical word names that have become popular, alongside Lyric, Harmony, and Aria
Cadence in Other Languages
Famous People Named Cadence
Cadence Weapon
Musician
1986
Canadian hip-hop artist and poet laureate of Edmonton, known for innovative electronic hip-hop
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,801
- Total SSA Count
- 91
- Cultural Origins
- American English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Cadence is also used as a girl name, ranked #1036.
View Cadence as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cadence
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About the Name Cadence
Cadence is a boy name with American and English origins . The name means "rhythm, beat, flow" in Latin via French .
Is Cadence a boy or girl name? Cadence is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,801 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #1,036. Cadence is more commonly used as a girl name.
Cadence is currently ranked #1,801 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Cadence has 2 syllables and is pronounced k-AYD-uhns, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Cadence include Cade and Cady. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Cadence include Caden, Cade . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.