Calista
2025 SSA
About Calista
Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she introduced a whole sensibility. Pretty and delicate, Calista is definitely worthy of consideration, especially for parents with Greek roots.
In ancient myth, Calista (or Calisto)was a nymph loved by Zeus, whose jealous wife Hera turned her into a bear.
Nicknames Callie (or Cali), Cassie, Calla, Issy, Lissy, or Kit add extra appeal.
Pronounced kuh-LIS-tuh.
As of October 2026, Calista ranked #1597 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #519 in 1999, Nameberry popularity #665.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,455 | 155 | 86.8 |
| 2015 | #1,372 | 172 | 96.4 |
| 2016 | #1,306 | 183 | 103.3 |
| 2017 | #1,489 | 149 | 86.3 |
| 2018 | #1,634 | 130 | 76.4 |
| 2019 | #1,374 | 164 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | #1,926 | 99 | 61.2 |
| 2021 | #1,515 | 139 | 84.7 |
| 2022 | #1,794 | 114 | 69.5 |
| 2023 | #1,711 | 120 | 74.8 |
| 2024 | #1,457 | 150 | 92.6 |
| 2025 | #1,597 | 131 | 81.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
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Calista on lists
Famous Calistas
- Calista Flockhart
American actress
- Calista H. Vinton
American missionary to Burma
- Calista Kazuko Robertson
English reality TV personality ("Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack")
- Calista Carradine
daughter of actor David Carradine
Calista in pop culture
- Calista Cross
character in the Spy High series by A.J. Butcher
- Calista Secor aka Retro Girl
character in the "Powers" comics
- Calista
character in 2006 film "Dreamland"
- Calista
character in "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
- Calista Jacobs
character in the mystery series by Kathryn Lasky
- Calista Cod
character in an episode of TV's "Pushing Daisies"
- Calista
character in "The Fair Penitent" by Nicholas Rowe
- Calista
character in "Love,Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister" by Aphra Behn
- Calista
character in "The Guardian" by Philip Massinger