From a surname which was originally given to a person who played on a pipe (a flute). It was popularized as a given name by a character from the television series 'Charmed', which debuted in 1998. Piper originates in Old English language and means "playing the pipe". It was derived from a surname given to someone who played on pipe or flute. Nowadays, it is more popular as a feminine given name than the masculine one.
