Declining since 1999, #3,577 for girls today.
Popularity of Callista since 1914
Babies named Callista per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 40 |
| 1920s | 23 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 28 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 44 |
| 1980s | 197 |
| 1990s | 424 |
| 2000s | 901 |
| 2010s | 567 |
| 2020s | 250 |
Meaning & origin
Callista, the feminine form of the Greek name Kallistos meaning 'most beautiful,' has appeared in U.S. birth records since 1914. Its peak popularity came in 1999, but since then its use has been declining. In 2025, the name ranked 3,577th nationally, with about 1 in every 38,268 girls receiving the name. Texas is the state where Callista has seen the most use. While not extremely common, Callista carries a classical elegance that appeals to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional name.
Callista is the feminine form of the Greek name Kallistos (Κάλλιστος), which means 'most beautiful.' It is derived from the Greek word kallos (beauty). The name appears in Greek mythology as an epithet of the goddess Artemis.
Where Callista is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Callista” around the world
Where Callista lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Callie, Cally, Cal
Sibling names for Callista
Names that share Callista's style, for a brother or sister.
