Calliope comes from the Greek Kalliopē (Καλλιόπη) — kallos (beauty) + ops (voice) — meaning "beautiful-voiced." In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of epic poetry, eldest of the nine Muses. She is the mother of Orpheus.
Calliope is rising steadily in the U.S. as part of the broader return of classical mythological names. The character Calliope Torres in Grey's Anatomy brought the name to wider attention. Today it sits in the U.S. top 500.
Calliope reduces to eight — the number of poetic authority.