The world's best-known bands

Famous band names

Which band names does the whole world know? We ranked 14,000+ notable groups from Wikidata by how many Wikipedia language editions write about them. It's a simple, transparent measure of global fame, and it puts The Beatles, Queen and ABBA right where you'd expect.

Below are the top 200 overall, then the most famous names in each major genre. If you're naming your own band, scan the patterns: most famous names are short, sayable and a little odd. Then use our generator to make something of your own.

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The 200 most famous band names

Notable acts from Wikidata, ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions about them.

  1. The Beatles 1960 · beat · UK
  2. The Carpenters 1969 · easy listening · US
  3. Queen 1970 · art rock · UK
  4. The Doors 1965 · classic rock · US
  5. ABBA 1970 · scandinavian pop · Sweden
  6. Lordi 1992 · pop metal · Finland
  7. Paramore 2003 · power pop · US
  8. Motörhead 1975 · speed metal · UK
  9. The Rolling Stones 1962 · classic rock · UK
  10. Metallica 1981 · thrash metal · US
  11. Pink Floyd 1964 · experimental rock · UK
  12. BTS 2013 · korean hip-hop · South Korea
  13. Led Zeppelin 1968 · blues rock · England
  14. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  15. U2 1976 · dance-rock · Ireland
  16. Nirvana 1987 · grunge · US
  17. Blackpink 2016 · trap · South Korea
  18. Iron Maiden 1975 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  19. AC/DC 1973 · classic rock · Australia
  20. Coldplay 1999 · alternative rock · UK
  21. Red Hot Chili Peppers 1982 · classic rock · US
  22. One Direction 2010 · teen pop · UK
  23. 30 Seconds to Mars 1998 · progressive rock · US
  24. Twice k-pop · South Korea
  25. Black Sabbath 1968 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  26. Guns N' Roses 1985 · hard rock · US
  27. Rammstein 1994 · shock rock · Germany
  28. Duran Duran 1978 · art pop · UK
  29. Green Day 1982 · pop-punk · US
  30. The Who 1964 · classic rock · UK
  31. Deep Purple 1968 · classic rock · UK
  32. Kiss 1973 · hard rock · US
  33. Bon Jovi 1983 · glam metal · US
  34. Aerosmith 1969 · traditional heavy metal · US
  35. Depeche Mode 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  36. Dire Straits 1977 · blues rock · UK
  37. Judas Priest 1969 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  38. The Beach Boys 1961 · surf · US
  39. Eagles 1971 · country rock · US
  40. Spice Girls 1994 · europop · UK
  41. Oasis 1991 · neo-psychedelia · UK
  42. Scorpions 1965 · hard rock · Germany
  43. System of a Down 1994 · nu metal · US
  44. Måneskin 2016 · pop rock · Italy
  45. Maroon 5 1994 · funk rock · US
  46. Pearl Jam 1990 · hard rock · US
  47. The Clash 1976 · post-punk · UK
  48. The Prodigy 1990 · alternative dance · UK
  49. Backstreet Boys 1993 · contemporary r&b · US
  50. Lacuna Coil 1994 · alternative metal · Italy
  51. Ramones 1974 · pop-punk · US
  52. Slipknot 1994 · nu metal · US
  53. The Velvet Underground 1965 · avant-punk · US
  54. Black Eyed Peas 1995 · latin hip-hop · US
  55. The Cure 1976 · gothic rock · UK
  56. Bee Gees 1958 · blue-eyed soul · UK
  57. Korn 1993 · nu metal · US
  58. Nine Inch Nails 1988 · industrial rock · US
  59. The Cranberries 1989 · celtic rock · Ireland
  60. Blink-182 1992 · pop-punk · US
  61. Slayer 1981 · thrash metal · US
  62. AKB48 2005 · bubblegum · Japan
  63. Arctic Monkeys 2002 · post-punk revival · UK
  64. Daft Punk 1993 · synth-pop · France
  65. Joy Division 1976 · post-punk · UK
  66. My Chemical Romance 2001 · pop-punk · US
  67. Simon & Garfunkel 1957 · folk-pop · US
  68. The Killers 2001 · alternative rock · US
  69. Jonas Brothers 2005 · pop rock · US
  70. R.E.M. 1980 · folk rock · US
  71. Rage Against the Machine 1991 · funk metal · US
  72. Tokio Hotel 2001 · synth-pop · Germany
  73. EXO 2012 · synth-pop · People's Republic of China
  74. Fleetwood Mac 1967 · pop rock · UK
  75. Genesis 1967 · progressive pop · UK
  76. Girls' Generation 2007 · contemporary r&b · South Korea
  77. Sum 41 1996 · pop-punk · Canada
  78. Alice in Chains 1987 · alternative metal · US
  79. Dream Theater 1985 · progressive metal · US
  80. Foo Fighters 1995 · post-grunge · US
  81. Kara 2007 · k-pop · South Korea
  82. Limp Bizkit 1994 · nu metal · US
  83. Momoiro Clover Z 2008 · pop rock · Japan
  84. Nickelback 1995 · post-grunge · Canada
  85. t.A.T.u. 1999 · lgbtq+ art · Russia
  86. Soundgarden 1984 · stoner metal · US
  87. Avenged Sevenfold 1999 · progressive metal · US
  88. BigBang 2006 · synth-pop · South Korea
  89. Boney M. 1975 · eurodisco · West Germany
  90. Clannad 1970 · new age · Ireland
  91. Kraftwerk 1961 · electronica · Germany
  92. OneRepublic 2009 · cello rock · US
  93. The Police 1977 · reggae rock · UK
  94. Wanna One 2017 · k-pop · South Korea
  95. Pantera 1981 · groove metal · US
  96. Roxette 1986 · europop · Sweden
  97. The Pussycat Dolls 2003 · contemporary r&b · US
  98. The White Stripes 1997 · punk blues · US
  99. Blondie 1974 · power pop · US
  100. Blur 1988 · lo-fi · UK
  101. Creedence Clearwater Revival 1968 · country rock · US
  102. Kino 1981 · post-punk · Soviet Union
  103. Lynyrd Skynyrd 1964 · southern rock · US
  104. Red Velvet k-pop · South Korea
  105. Uriah Heep 1969 · hard rock · UK
  106. Deftones 1988 · nu metal · US
  107. Imagine Dragons 2008 · pop rock · US
  108. Mayhem 1984 · black metal · Norway
  109. Sepultura 1984 · groove metal · Brazil
  110. The Smashing Pumpkins 1988 · alternative rock · US
  111. Twenty One Pilots 2009 · indie pop · US
  112. Van Halen 1972 · classic rock · US
  113. Burzum 1991 · dark ambient · Norway
  114. Children of Bodom 1993 · melodic death metal · Finland
  115. Europe 1978 · speed metal · Sweden
  116. Franz Ferdinand 2002 · indie rock · UK
  117. Jefferson Airplane 1965 · psychedelic folk · US
  118. Sigur Rós 1994 · post-rock · Iceland
  119. Take That 1990 · funk · UK
  120. The Offspring 1984 · melodic hardcore · US
  121. The Smiths 1984 · jangle pop · UK
  122. Def Leppard 1977 · hard rock · UK
  123. Destiny's Child 1990 · rhythm and blues · US
  124. Florence + the Machine 2007 · art rock · UK
  125. Gorillaz 1998 · art pop · UK
  126. HIM 1995 · gothic rock · Finland
  127. Pet Shop Boys 1981 · art pop · UK
  128. Sonic Youth 1981 · no wave · US
  129. The Rasmus 1994 · pop rock · Finland
  130. Tool 1990 · psychedelic rock · US
  131. Placebo 1994 · britpop · UK
  132. Beastie Boys 1981 · rap rock · US
  133. Buranovskiye Babushki 2008 · traditional folk song · Russia
  134. Erasure 1985 · synth-pop · UK
  135. Garbage 1993 · alternative rock · US
  136. Snow Patrol 1994 · alternative rock · Scotland
  137. The Jackson 5 1964 · bubblegum · US
  138. ZZ Top 1969 · boogie rock · US
  139. Fall Out Boy 2001 · emo pop · US
  140. Jethro Tull 1967 · art rock · UK
  141. Keane 1995 · piano rock · UK
  142. N.W.A. 1986 · political hip-hop · US
  143. Sabaton 1999 · power metal · Sweden
  144. Talking Heads 1975 · post-punk · US
  145. The Strokes 1998 · post-punk revival · US
  146. King Crimson 1968 · jazz rock · UK
  147. Manowar 1980 · true metal · US
  148. Stray Kids 2017 · electronic dance · South Korea
  149. Disturbed 1994 · nu metal · US
  150. Grateful Dead 1965 · psychedelic rock · US
  151. Helloween 1984 · power metal · Germany
  152. Little Big rave · Russia
  153. Public Enemy 1986 · progressive rap · US
  154. Super Junior 2005 · synth-pop · South Korea
  155. The Supremes 1958 · doo-wop · US
  156. Wu-Tang Clan 1992 · mafioso rap · US
  157. 2NE1 2009 · synth-pop · South Korea
  158. a-ha 1982 · pop rock · Norway
  159. Ace of Base 1990 · music of sweden · Sweden
  160. Anthrax 1981 · thrash metal · US
  161. Bullet for My Valentine 1998 · melodic metalcore · UK
  162. Candies 1973 · pop · Japan
  163. Cannibal Corpse 1988 · death metal · US
  164. Itzy 2019 · electronic dance · South Korea
  165. No Doubt 1986 · reggae fusion · US
  166. SHINee 2008 · synth-pop · South Korea
  167. The Animals 1962 · british blues · UK
  168. The Mars Volta 2001 · progressive rock · US
  169. Toto 1977 · yacht rock · US
  170. Weezer 1992 · nerd · US
  171. Cream 1966 · jam band · UK
  172. Mötley Crüe 1981 · sleaze rock · US
  173. Rush 1968 · hard rock · Canada
  174. Three Days Grace 1992 · post-grunge · Canada
  175. 5 Seconds of Summer 2011 · pop rock · Australia
  176. Arch Enemy 1996 · melodic death metal · Sweden
  177. Bring Me the Horizon 2004 · deathcore · UK
  178. Ha*Ash 2002 · country pop · US
  179. Little Mix 2011 · contemporary r&b · UK
  180. Pixies 1986 · indie rock · US
  181. Serebro 2006 · synth-pop · Russia
  182. Simple Plan 1999 · pop-punk · Canada
  183. The Roop pop · Lithuania
  184. Venom 1979 · thrash metal · UK
  185. X Japan 1982 · progressive metal · Japan
  186. Arcade Fire 2001 · chamber pop · Canada
  187. Bathory 1983 · thrash metal · Sweden
  188. Faith No More 1983 · alternative metal · US
  189. Kings of Leon 1999 · alternative rock · US
  190. Marilyn Manson 1989 · shock rock · US
  191. New Order 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  192. Opeth 1990 · technical death metal · Sweden
  193. Eurythmics 1980 · blue-eyed soul · UK
  194. Good Charlotte 1996 · pop-punk · US
  195. Got7 2014 · k-pop · South Korea
  196. In Flames 1990 · melodic death metal · Sweden
  197. INXS 1977 · pub rock · Australia
  198. Korpiklaani 1993 · humppa · Finland
  199. Papa Roach 1993 · rap rock · US
  200. Queens of the Stone Age 1996 · stoner rock · US

Famous band names by genre

Notable acts from Wikidata, ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions about them.

Famous rock bands

  1. The Beatles 1960 · beat · UK
  2. The Carpenters 1969 · easy listening · US
  3. Queen 1970 · art rock · UK
  4. The Doors 1965 · classic rock · US
  5. ABBA 1970 · scandinavian pop · Sweden
  6. Lordi 1992 · pop metal · Finland
  7. Paramore 2003 · power pop · US
  8. Motörhead 1975 · speed metal · UK
  9. The Rolling Stones 1962 · classic rock · UK
  10. Pink Floyd 1964 · experimental rock · UK
  11. Led Zeppelin 1968 · blues rock · England
  12. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  13. U2 1976 · dance-rock · Ireland
  14. Nirvana 1987 · grunge · US
  15. Iron Maiden 1975 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  16. AC/DC 1973 · classic rock · Australia
  17. Coldplay 1999 · alternative rock · UK
  18. Red Hot Chili Peppers 1982 · classic rock · US
  19. 30 Seconds to Mars 1998 · progressive rock · US
  20. Black Sabbath 1968 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  21. Guns N' Roses 1985 · hard rock · US
  22. Duran Duran 1978 · art pop · UK
  23. Green Day 1982 · pop-punk · US
  24. The Who 1964 · classic rock · UK
  25. Deep Purple 1968 · classic rock · UK

Famous metal bands

  1. Queen 1970 · art rock · UK
  2. Lordi 1992 · pop metal · Finland
  3. Motörhead 1975 · speed metal · UK
  4. Metallica 1981 · thrash metal · US
  5. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  6. Iron Maiden 1975 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  7. Red Hot Chili Peppers 1982 · classic rock · US
  8. Black Sabbath 1968 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  9. Rammstein 1994 · shock rock · Germany
  10. Duran Duran 1978 · art pop · UK
  11. Deep Purple 1968 · classic rock · UK
  12. Bon Jovi 1983 · glam metal · US
  13. Aerosmith 1969 · traditional heavy metal · US
  14. Judas Priest 1969 · traditional heavy metal · UK
  15. Scorpions 1965 · hard rock · Germany
  16. System of a Down 1994 · nu metal · US
  17. Lacuna Coil 1994 · alternative metal · Italy
  18. Slipknot 1994 · nu metal · US
  19. Korn 1993 · nu metal · US
  20. Nine Inch Nails 1988 · industrial rock · US
  21. Slayer 1981 · thrash metal · US
  22. My Chemical Romance 2001 · pop-punk · US
  23. Rage Against the Machine 1991 · funk metal · US
  24. Sum 41 1996 · pop-punk · Canada
  25. Alice in Chains 1987 · alternative metal · US

Famous punk bands

  1. U2 1976 · dance-rock · Ireland
  2. Green Day 1982 · pop-punk · US
  3. Depeche Mode 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  4. The Clash 1976 · post-punk · UK
  5. The Prodigy 1990 · alternative dance · UK
  6. Ramones 1974 · pop-punk · US
  7. The Velvet Underground 1965 · avant-punk · US
  8. The Cure 1976 · gothic rock · UK
  9. The Cranberries 1989 · celtic rock · Ireland
  10. Blink-182 1992 · pop-punk · US
  11. Arctic Monkeys 2002 · post-punk revival · UK
  12. Joy Division 1976 · post-punk · UK
  13. My Chemical Romance 2001 · pop-punk · US
  14. Tokio Hotel 2001 · synth-pop · Germany
  15. Sum 41 1996 · pop-punk · Canada
  16. Momoiro Clover Z 2008 · pop rock · Japan
  17. The Police 1977 · reggae rock · UK
  18. The White Stripes 1997 · punk blues · US
  19. Blondie 1974 · power pop · US
  20. Kino 1981 · post-punk · Soviet Union
  21. The Offspring 1984 · melodic hardcore · US
  22. The Smiths 1984 · jangle pop · UK
  23. Beastie Boys 1981 · rap rock · US
  24. Fall Out Boy 2001 · emo pop · US
  25. N.W.A. 1986 · political hip-hop · US

Famous pop bands

  1. The Beatles 1960 · beat · UK
  2. The Carpenters 1969 · easy listening · US
  3. Queen 1970 · art rock · UK
  4. ABBA 1970 · scandinavian pop · Sweden
  5. Lordi 1992 · pop metal · Finland
  6. Paramore 2003 · power pop · US
  7. BTS 2013 · korean hip-hop · South Korea
  8. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  9. U2 1976 · dance-rock · Ireland
  10. Blackpink 2016 · trap · South Korea
  11. Coldplay 1999 · alternative rock · UK
  12. One Direction 2010 · teen pop · UK
  13. Twice k-pop · South Korea
  14. Duran Duran 1978 · art pop · UK
  15. Green Day 1982 · pop-punk · US
  16. Bon Jovi 1983 · glam metal · US
  17. Depeche Mode 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  18. The Beach Boys 1961 · surf · US
  19. Spice Girls 1994 · europop · UK
  20. Måneskin 2016 · pop rock · Italy
  21. Maroon 5 1994 · funk rock · US
  22. Backstreet Boys 1993 · contemporary r&b · US
  23. Ramones 1974 · pop-punk · US
  24. Black Eyed Peas 1995 · latin hip-hop · US
  25. Bee Gees 1958 · blue-eyed soul · UK

Famous hip-hop & r&b bands

  1. BTS 2013 · korean hip-hop · South Korea
  2. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  3. Blackpink 2016 · trap · South Korea
  4. Red Hot Chili Peppers 1982 · classic rock · US
  5. Maroon 5 1994 · funk rock · US
  6. Backstreet Boys 1993 · contemporary r&b · US
  7. Black Eyed Peas 1995 · latin hip-hop · US
  8. Bee Gees 1958 · blue-eyed soul · UK
  9. Rage Against the Machine 1991 · funk metal · US
  10. Girls' Generation 2007 · contemporary r&b · South Korea
  11. Momoiro Clover Z 2008 · pop rock · Japan
  12. Boney M. 1975 · eurodisco · West Germany
  13. The Pussycat Dolls 2003 · contemporary r&b · US
  14. Twenty One Pilots 2009 · indie pop · US
  15. Take That 1990 · funk · UK
  16. Destiny's Child 1990 · rhythm and blues · US
  17. Gorillaz 1998 · art pop · UK
  18. Beastie Boys 1981 · rap rock · US
  19. The Jackson 5 1964 · bubblegum · US
  20. N.W.A. 1986 · political hip-hop · US
  21. Stray Kids 2017 · electronic dance · South Korea
  22. Public Enemy 1986 · progressive rap · US
  23. The Supremes 1958 · doo-wop · US
  24. Wu-Tang Clan 1992 · mafioso rap · US
  25. Itzy 2019 · electronic dance · South Korea

Famous electronic bands

  1. Linkin Park 1996 · nu metal · US
  2. Blackpink 2016 · trap · South Korea
  3. Rammstein 1994 · shock rock · Germany
  4. Duran Duran 1978 · art pop · UK
  5. Depeche Mode 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  6. The Prodigy 1990 · alternative dance · UK
  7. Nine Inch Nails 1988 · industrial rock · US
  8. Daft Punk 1993 · synth-pop · France
  9. Tokio Hotel 2001 · synth-pop · Germany
  10. t.A.T.u. 1999 · lgbtq+ art · Russia
  11. Kraftwerk 1961 · electronica · Germany
  12. Gorillaz 1998 · art pop · UK
  13. Pet Shop Boys 1981 · art pop · UK
  14. Placebo 1994 · britpop · UK
  15. Jethro Tull 1967 · art rock · UK
  16. Stray Kids 2017 · electronic dance · South Korea
  17. a-ha 1982 · pop rock · Norway
  18. Itzy 2019 · electronic dance · South Korea
  19. Bring Me the Horizon 2004 · deathcore · UK
  20. Marilyn Manson 1989 · shock rock · US
  21. New Order 1980 · synth-pop · UK
  22. The Chainsmokers 2012 · electronic dance · US
  23. Die Antwoord 2008 · alternative hip-hop · South Africa
  24. Cascada 2004 · eurotrance · Germany
  25. Massive Attack 1988 · electronica · UK

Famous country & folk bands

  1. The Beatles 1960 · beat · UK
  2. Led Zeppelin 1968 · blues rock · England
  3. Dire Straits 1977 · blues rock · UK
  4. Eagles 1971 · country rock · US
  5. The Velvet Underground 1965 · avant-punk · US
  6. The Cranberries 1989 · celtic rock · Ireland
  7. Simon & Garfunkel 1957 · folk-pop · US
  8. R.E.M. 1980 · folk rock · US
  9. Creedence Clearwater Revival 1968 · country rock · US
  10. Burzum 1991 · dark ambient · Norway
  11. Jefferson Airplane 1965 · psychedelic folk · US
  12. Buranovskiye Babushki 2008 · traditional folk song · Russia
  13. Jethro Tull 1967 · art rock · UK
  14. Ha*Ash 2002 · country pop · US
  15. Korpiklaani 1993 · humppa · Finland
  16. The Everly Brothers 1957 · rockabilly · US
  17. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 1968 · soft rock · US
  18. Peter, Paul and Mary 1961 · folk · US
  19. The Mamas & the Papas 1965 · sunshine pop · US
  20. Mumford & Sons 2007 · folk rock · UK
  21. The Byrds 1964 · country rock · US
  22. Eluveitie 2002 · celtic metal · Switzerland
  23. Ensiferum 1995 · folk metal · Finland
  24. Go_A 2012 · folktronica · Ukraine
  25. T. Rex 1967 · psychedelic rock · UK

What famous band names have in common

Across the 200 names above, a few habits repeat. Most are one or two words. Many use a single striking image (Queen, Nirvana, Metallica) or a twist on a familiar phrase (The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin). Very few explain the music. They earn meaning through the songs.

  • One or two words, easy to say after hearing once
  • A concrete image or a made-up word, rarely a description
  • A spelling that survives a noisy room and a search box
  • Distinctive enough to own the search results

Questions

What is the most famous band name in the world?

By our measure (Wikipedia language editions), The Beatles top the list, followed by groups such as Queen, ABBA, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Metallica and BTS.

How is fame measured here?

Each band is ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article about it (Wikidata sitelinks). It favours bands known across many countries rather than chart positions in one market.

Can I use one of these real band names?

No. The names in the notable-bands lists belong to real, well-known acts, so using one would confuse fans and could infringe their rights. Use them for inspiration, then generate an original name and run it through the band name checker.

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