How Did A Perfect Circle Get Their Name?

Some band names are random. Some are accidents. And some feel like they fit so perfectly you can’t imagine them being called anything else. A Perfect Circle falls into that last category.

The Origins

Back in 1999, guitarist Billy Howerdel had been writing songs for years but didn’t have a band to bring them to life. He linked up with Maynard James Keenan (already famous as the frontman of Tool), and the two decided to start something new.

When it came time to give this new project a name, they landed on A Perfect Circle — a phrase that was both simple and mysterious.

What the Name Means

The band never pinned down one single “official” meaning, but here are a few things fans and insiders have pieced together:

• Symmetry and Balance: A circle has no beginning and no end. It’s complete, infinite, flawless. The name suggests a kind of unity or wholeness — fitting for a band that blends dark, heavy riffs with haunting melodies.

• The Logo Connection: Their iconic logo — a broken circle — plays with the idea of something that looks perfect but isn’t. It fits their music: beautiful, precise, but always carrying tension and unease.

• Personal Symbolism: Some say Maynard liked the phrase because it summed up the band’s vibe: aiming for perfection but acknowledging imperfection.

Why It Works

What’s cool is that the name mirrors the music. A Perfect Circle songs are layered, hypnotic, and cyclical — riffs and vocals that loop and swirl until you’re caught in them. They don’t feel like traditional verse-chorus-verse tracks; they feel like shapes, patterns, circles.

Final Thought

So how did A Perfect Circle get their name? Out of a simple phrase that captured both the beauty and the flaw in everything. Like their music, the name feels elegant, mysterious, and just a little unsettling.

In other words — perfectly imperfect.

Sam