Thelonious

Thelonious is a masculine given name of uncertain origin. The name is most widely recognized as the first name of the American jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), whose prominence in jazz has strongly shaped its association in popular culture.

The exact etymology of Thelonious is unclear. It appears to be a creative or modified form of other names, with spellings such as Thelonius or Thelonious in use. The name remains rare, with its best-attested usage in the mid-20th century United States and no broad resurgence in recent decades.

The most notable bearer of the name is Thelonious Monk, a leading figure in bebop and modern jazz. Monk was known for his distinctive improvisational approach, angular melodies, and dissonant harmonies. His compositions, including "'Round Midnight," "Blue Monk," "Epistrophy," and "Straight, No Chaser," became jazz standards. He performed with prominent artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane, and his work influenced generations of pianists and improvisers. In 2003, he received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his central place in the development of jazz.